Carlos Sainz lost 100 downforce points after Piastri crash – nearly dangerously low levels. Carlos lost 100 downforce points after Piastri crash.

For Scuderia Ferrari Spanish driver Carlos Sainz, the race at the 7.004-kilometre Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in Stavelot can be said to have concluded after just one corner when, at La Source, he was involuntarily involved in an incident with the McLaren of Oscar Piastri, which ultimately forced him to retire.

As reported by Spanish newspaper Marca after the Belgian Grand Prix, the Spaniard walked through the paddock with a serious expression and determined steps, while Charles Leclerc wore a broad smile on his face.

The two had just come out of a meeting with the engineers during which all the damages caused by the collision with the McLaren were explained to car number 55. Below are all the details.

Damages suffered by Carlos Sainz

Comparing Carlos Sainz’s race pace with that of Charles Leclerc, the Spanish driver was losing two and a half seconds per lap due to the damages affecting the underbody and the sidepods of his single-seater. Calculating it in terms of aerodynamic load points, it was estimated that Carlos Sainz ran with a significant 100 points less of downforce.

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Speaking to Marca, Carlos Sainz stated: “We continued hoping for a red flag due to rain. I would have had time to fix the damage.” Unfortunately, luck was not on the side of the Ferrari driver, who also saw his teammate overtake him in the championship standings ahead of the summer break. Now, Formula 1 will go on vacation and return at the end of August on Max Verstappen’s home track in the Netherlands. Summing up this first part of the season, Carlos Sainz has shown a good pace, but the only thing missing has been a podium.

Considering the challenges of the historic Belgian circuit, the decision to call him back to the pits and retire the car was more than understandable.