Sainz reprimanded for causing “a potentially dangerous situation” after crash · RaceFans

The stewards have given Carlos Sainz Jnr a formal reprimand for his actions after crashing out of the Brazilian Grand Prix.

They ruled the Ferrari driver created a “potentially dangerous situation” by trying to drive away while marshals were beginning to recover his car. The stewards concluded Sainz’s actions led to a misunderstanding between him and the marshals.

Sainz crashed out at Laranjinha on the race’s 39th lap. “The marshals were quickly on the scene to recover the car,” the stewards explained. “The driver removed the steering wheel indicating to the marshals that he was abandoning the car.

“The team then informed the driver that they thought the car was safe to continue. The driver replaced the steering wheel while the marshals had started to feed the recovery loop through the roll hoop of the car.”

Carlos Sainz Jnr, Ferrari, Interlagos, 2024 — Sainz crashed twice in one day

After speaking to Sainz, the stewards noted “the driver admitted that he was not aware that the marshals had commenced the recovery procedure.

“The marshals, recognising that the driver was going to attempt to restart, aborted the recovery attempt just as the driver drove the car away.”

Sainz later came to a stop and did not continue in the race. “The driver admitted that he did not know that the marshals had started the recovery procedure and accepted that removing the steering wheel was a clear indication of his intention to abandon the car.

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“A potentially dangerous situation was created that was avoidable by the driver solely,” they concluded.

The Ferrari driver crashed out of qualifying and the grand prix on Sunday in Interlagos. He said he did not understand why he experienced his difficulties in the wet conditions.

“I had two crashes that honestly I cannot explain very well,” Sainz told the official F1 channel. “It’s very unpredictable, this car this year in the wet has been extremely difficult to drive.

“At the same time I apologise to the team for two mistakes because obviously it cost us. But the starting from the line it’s not like we were going to get to a lot of points. So turn the page and come back stronger.”