The Circuit of the Americas had been conducive to Carlos Sainz since his debut in the 2015 World Championship. In fact, in his nine previous participations with Toro Rosso, Renault, McLaren and Ferrari, the Madrid native had always entered the points zone when he finished the race, including his last two podiums with the Scuderia (2023, 2024). However, this streak was cut short with Williams due to an accident before Andrea Kimi Antonelli and a subsequent penalty of five places on the grid for the Mexican GP.
The stewards pointed out Sainz as the “mainly responsible” for the collision before the Mercedes driver, for which they applied the “corresponding penalty.” “Given that the sanctioned driver did not finish the race, a grid penalty equal to a 10-second penalty is imposed,” argued the letter signed by Felix Holter, Matthew Selley, Enrique Bernoldi y Steve Pence.
According to the judges, Sainz was never parallel to or in front of Antonelli’s rearview mirror, so according to the regulations’ guidelines “he had no right to be given space at the apex” of the curve. A common argument in the FIA documents, but which clashed with the interpretation of Sainz, who only a few laps before had signed a similar maneuver before Oliver Bearman.
“From the outside it looks like my fault”
“I know that from the outside it seems like my fault,” admitted the Williams leader in the Austin mixed zone, in advance of his more detailed explanation. “I accept the fact that I blocked the tire and caused the incident. But if when I made that same overtake on Bearman he didn’t close the door on me like he had been closing it on me, I think a little bit of blame can be attributed to both of us,” he reasoned.
A sad epilogue for Sainz, who on Saturday had taken the podium in the sprint race and that hours before the race he had received a visit from Isabel Diaz Ayusopresident of the Community of Madrid. During her visit to the Circuit of the Americas, the leader of the Madrid PP stopped by the Williams garage, where she was received by the ambassador of the Spanish GP in Madrid.
After the penalty, Sainz’s options become more complicated next weekend at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, where last year he completed one of the best performances of his life, with pole and victory. During the first free practice session, Sainz will hand over the wheel of the FW45 to Luke Browning. The 23-year-old Briton is a member of the Williams academy and has a chance of becoming F2 champion in the last two rounds of the championship, which will be held in Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
Sainz, with Isabel Díaz Ayuso, president of the Community of Madrid.
The other victim on Sunday was Lewis Hamiltonwho crossed the finish line fourth, just behind his teammate Charles Leclerc. In this way, the seven-time champion became the Ferrari driver with the most races in history (19) without being on the podium, surpassing the record of Didier Pironiwho had linked 18 between 1981 and 1982.
One more milestone in his frustrating debut season in Maranello, since the seven-time champion never had any options to get into the box. After his pit stopthe seven-time champion was left in no man’s land, with no options to pressure Lando Norriswhile the McLaren driver did stalk Leclerc. Likewise, during the final stretch of the test he suffered some problems with the right front wheel, as he commented on the radio to Riccardo Adamihis track engineer.
On the other hand, Sunday’s 10 points, added to the seven of the sprint raceallowed Sir Lewis to establish another positive record, becoming the only driver in history with more than 5,000 points. At the moment it totals 5,004.5, with a comfortable advantage over Max Verstappen (3,329.5). In any case, the Dutchman took the honor of being the driver with the most victories on American soil from Hamilton this Sunday, with seven.
“It was a good result for the team. I’m glad to have finished ahead of Mercedes and a McLaren. There are many positive conclusions. Naturally, I want to go further, so I have to keep trying,” concluded the former leader of the Silver Arrows. With these 36 loot points in Austin, the Scuderia remains in third position in the Constructors’ World Championship, in a tough battle with Mercedes (341) and Red Bull (331).
From now on, Hamilton’s immediate priority is to get on the podium at two circuits that are usually conducive to his driving style, such as Mexico and Interlagos. Without forgetting Las Vegas, where Ferrari was very strong during the first two editions in Sin City.