NEW DELHI: Sainz Grid Penalty headlines a major pre-race shake-up at Suzuka as Carlos Sainz has been handed a three-place grid drop for impeding Lewis Hamilton during Q2 of qualifying at the 2024 Japanese Grand Prix.
The incident happened in the second phase of qualifying at the high-speed Turn 1, where Sainz, after finishing his flying lap, remained on the racing line just as Hamilton was starting his push lap. The Ferrari driver had to take avoiding action, ruining his lap and visibly frustrating him.
Hamilton immediately reported the issue over team radio, saying, “I got blocked by a Williams!” In reality, it was Sainz, not Albon, whom Hamilton mistakenly blamed in the heat of the moment.
Carlos Sainz has been handed a three-place grid penalty for impeding Lewis Hamilton 🚨
This drops Sainz from P12 to P15 for the Grand Prix#F1 #JapaneseGP pic.twitter.com/4kBmfW3lMJ
— Formula 1 (@F1) April 5, 2025
Stewards: Team Had Ample Time, Penalty Justified
After a detailed review of the footage, telemetry, marshalling data, team radio and in-car video, the FIA stewards concluded that Sainz was at fault—regardless of whether the error lay with him or the team.
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In the official statement, the stewards said:
“The driver of car 55 [Sainz] stated that he did not have any warning from the team of the approach of car 44 [Hamilton] on a push lap. He stated that he was caught completely by surprise and, because of the approach speed of car 44, and the angle of his car, he could not see Car 44 in his mirrors.”
They acknowledged Sainz’s version of events but added:
“However, notwithstanding the above, the team had ample warning that car 44 was on an out-lap whilst car 55 was on its push lap. Also, more than eight seconds elapsed from when it was obvious car 44 was not going into the pits, and hence was going to start a push lap, and when car 55 could have taken appropriate action if the driver had been warned by the team.”
The verdict concluded by referencing the standard penalty guidelines:
“It is noted that the standard penalty guideline for this offence during qualifying, irrespective of whether it was the fault of the driver or the team, is a three grid position penalty, and therefore the stewards find that the standard penalty should be applied.”
Sainz Drops to P15 – Impact on Williams Strategy
Sainz had initially qualified 12th on the grid, three places behind teammate Alexander Albon, but will now start from 15th. This puts him behind Yuki Tsunoda, Liam Lawson, and Fernando Alonso — significantly affecting his chances of scoring points and disrupting Williams’ race-day strategy.
The penalty was applied under Article 37.5 of the FIA Sporting Regulations, which governs impeding during qualifying. While Hamilton advanced to Q3 and will start eighth, Sainz will now face an uphill battle from the midfield.
With the Sainz Grid Penalty now confirmed, the Japanese Grand Prix takes on an added layer of tension and strategy as teams reassess their starting plans.
