FIA reveals decision over Carlos Sainz impeding incident in Baku FP2 | 2024 Azerbaijan GP. Carlos Sainz and Sergio Perez had an incident during Baku FP2.

During the second free practice session of the 2024 Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz was involved in a noticeable impeding incident with Sergio Perez. The Spanish driver was summoned by the race stewards, who acted in an “unusual” manner.

It was the stewards themselves who described the race management’s decision as “unusual.” After reviewing the replays of the incident, the stewards chose to summon both drivers, Carlos Sainz and Sergio Perez, to clarify the situation.

The Ferrari driver, at 5:58 PM local time, was – against his will – responsible for impeding the Red Bull of the Mexican driver in a fast section of the track.

FIA’s clarification
“Impeding during free practice sessions is not usually investigated by the stewards,” explained the FIA statement, “unless the incident is deemed dangerous. The event was investigated because Perez had to lift off and quickly move to the right in a high-speed section of the circuit. It potentially represented a dangerous situation,” it reads.

“Upon listening to Sainz, the driver admitted to seeing Perez behind him,” the document continues. “The stewards also note that his team had warned him, but since he was distracted by various warning lights on the car, Sainz misjudged Perez’s closing speed.”

“The stewards noted that Sainz began to move to avoid the car behind him, but just a bit too late. Perez stated that, when he had to decelerate, he had good visibility and that the situation did not turn out to be particularly dangerous.”

Only a “warning” for Carlos Sainz after the impeding in Baku
The Baku Grand Prix stewards decided to give Sainz a reprimand for the impeding. The sanction is an official “Warning.” No penalty – of course – was given after the impeding in a free practice session.