That brilliant qualifying result for Williams is currently hanging by a thread, as RaceFans reports. Carlos Sainz Jnr has been summoned to see the stewards over an alleged yellow flag infringement during Q3.
The whole mess started when Lando Norris went off the circuit ahead of Sainz during the final qualifying session. While Norris managed to drive away before Sainz arrived at the scene, the Williams driver is now under investigation for allegedly failing to slow down properly for the resulting yellow flags.
Here is the kicker: he was already reprimanded earlier today for the exact same offense during final practice. In that earlier incident, the stewards noted that a single yellow flag was displayed in marshalling sector six just as Sainz approached. Sainz admitted to investigators that he caught a light signal in his peripheral vision near turn four but was unsure of its color, prompting him to ask his team over the radio if a yellow was out.
Telemetry and onboard footage showed a flashing yellow warning light on his steering wheel, though Sainz explained he could not pay attention to it. While he braked slightly earlier than his reference lap approaching turn four, he applied less brake pressure and accelerated more moderately on the exit, ultimately losing approximately 0.10 seconds in the sector. However, the stewards pointed out that Sainz accelerated up to the limiter on the straight while still inside the yellow sector, even after spotting the green light marking its end.
While the standard penalty guidelines call for a five-grid-position drop for ignoring yellow flags, the stewards opted for a driving reprimand in the practice incident. They cited mitigating circumstances, specifically the very short period between the single yellow being displayed and Sainz entering the sector, alongside comparable precedents. Now, however, the Spaniard faces a nervous wait to see how the stewards handle this second summons after qualifying.
