Carlos Sainz has received a penalty for making contact with Oscar Piastri during the Miami Grand Prix on Sunday.
On lap 34, things got really close between the pair as they battled for P4. Sainz tried to go around the outside into turn 11 but was aggressively shown to the run off by the Aussie who kept his car on track.
5 laps later, the Ferrari driver sent it down the inside into turn 17. As he looked to complete the move, he lost the rear of the car and made contact with Piastri’s front wing with his right rear tyre, damaging the Aussie’s wing in the process — it forced the McLaren man to pit.
Piastri had tried to come back into turn 1 as he had DRS but locked up and went wide as he had lost significant downforce with the damage. He finished P13 after rejoining in 19th.
The stewards decided to investigate the incident following the Grand Prix as they wanted to hear from both drivers.
Ultimately Sainz was found in the wrong and was hit with a 5-second penalty, dropping behind Sergio Perez and finishing P5. A point was added to his licence.
Stewards verdict
“The Stewards heard from the driver of Car 81 (Oscar Piastri), the driver of Car 55(Carlos Sainz), team representatives and reviewed video evidence and determined that Car 55 was overtaking Car 81 at Turn 17 when he lost the rear slightly and collided with Car 81. The collision resulted in damage to the front wing of Car 81.
“It was clear to us that Car 55 was to blame for the collision. In the overtake attempt, Car 55 braked late, missed the apex and in the process lost the rear, with theresulting collision.
“Although Car 81 was trying to turn in to counter the overtaking attempt, Car 81 gave sufficient room to Car 55 in the circumstances, we find Car 55 to be predominantly to blame for the collision.
“In this case, we took into account, as mitigating factors, the fact that but for the slight loss of control of the rear by Car 55, the collision would likely not have happened and it would have been hard but good racing.
“The standard penalty for a collision is 10 seconds with 2 penalty points. In light of the mitigating circumstances, we therefore impose a 5 second time penalty with 1 penalty point.
Kevin Magnussen has moved closer to a race ban as he picked up another 2 penalty points in Sunday’s race, moving him on to 10 overall.
As he battled with Logan Sargeant on lap 28 for P18, the Danish driver tried a rather ambitious move on the Floridian into turn 3 as he did not have enough of his car alongside the Williams following some good defending by the 23-year-old into turn 1. Sargeant was sent round into the barriers and his day was done.
Magnussen collected 5 penalty points over the course of the Miami Grand Prix weekend.
Stewards verdict
“The Stewards reviewed positioning/marshalling system data, video, timing, team radio and in-car video evidence and determined that Car 20 was attempting to pass Car 2 at Turn 1 and then again on the outside at Turn 2 and finally collided with Car 2 at Turn 3.
“Per the Driving Standards Guidelines, in order for Car 20 to be given room for anovertaking attempt on the outside, Car 20 needed to have the front axle at leastalongside the front axle of the other car at the apex of Turn 2.
“It was clear that Car 20 did not have its front axle in that position such that it was entitled to room in that corner. Further, if this is looked at purely as an overtaking on the inside of Turn 3, Car 20 would also not have had the right to the corner, by thestandards for an inside overtake.
“Even if this was viewed as a sequence of corners or a chicane, the decision remains the same Per the guidelines, priority will be given to the first corner and if you do nothave the right to be given room, then you do not get the benefit for the next corner.
“Car 20 was therefore wholly to blame for the collision that occurred.”
The 31-year-old Dane also received a 20-second post-race time penalty for a different infraction as well. Haas failed to change tyres during one of his trips to the pit lane.
Stewards verdict
“The Stewards heard from the driver of Car 20 (Kevin Magnussen), team representative and reviewed video evidence and determined that Car 20 entered the pit lane during the safety car period and did not change tyres as required under Article 55.11 of the FIA Formula One Sporting Regulations.
“The team admitted that this was an error on their part.
“While there was no precedent for this particular infringement, in order to remain consistent with other infringements of Article 55.11 of the Sporting Regulations, we impose a drive through penalty.”
Another driver penalised was Lance Stroll. The Canadian was awarded a 10-second time penalty for overtaking Alex Albon off track at turn 1 as they battled for P13 in the closing stages.
Stewards verdict
“The Stewards reviewed positioning/marshalling system data, video, team radio and in-car video evidence and determined that Car 18 left the track at Turn 1, overtook Car 23, and thereby gained a lasting advantage.
“Car 18 did not thereafter give the advantage back, which is a breach of Article 33.3 of the FIA Formula One Sporting Regulations.”
