The stewards’ verdict arrives following Carlos Sainz’s investigation after his incident during qualifying for the GP of Singapore, which left his Ferrari heavily damaged. The Spaniard receives a warning and a fine.
After the incident, which occurred while he was preparing for his valid pole lap, Carlos Sainz hit the wall with his SF-24. The car sustained significant damage to the rear and may have also suffered serious damage to the gearbox.
But beyond the damage, there’s also the sting. After the incident, Carlos Sainz crossed the track to return to the pits, considering the crash occurred on the starting straight near the last corner. Therefore, the Spaniard likely chose to cut across the track to re-enter.
Qualifying GP Singapore, here’s the verdict on Carlos Sainz.
The FIA statement explains the warning as follows: “The driver explained that he left the track because he was out of control and was concerned about regaining control, and since it was qualifying, he knew his lap time would be canceled. Given that the lap was canceled, which constitutes a penalty, and that no advantage was gained and no other driver was impeded, the Stewards issue a warning.”
But that’s not all. The FIA also issues a second statement: “The driver is fined €25,000, of which €12,500 is suspended for the rest of the 2024 season, provided no further similar infractions occur.”
This is not Ferrari’s first infraction during this Marina Bay weekend. Before qualifying, Charles Leclerc also had to appear before the stewards to explain the non-compliant tire pressure values of his car.
In Charles Leclerc’s case, a fine was imposed on Ferrari. Meanwhile, in Carlos Sainz’s case, a reprimand for non-compliant behavior may simply be forthcoming. Clearly, the penalty could be too harsh, but we’ll see what the race stewards decide.
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