Ferrari star in STRANGE Australian Grand Prix FIA investigation
Ferrari star in STRANGE Australian Grand Prix FIA investigation
Carlos Sainz landed himself in hot water with stewards after a strange incident at the end of final practice of the Australian Grand Prix.
The Spanish driver had ended the session third fastest and just shy of a tenth off pace setter and team-mate Charles Leclerc in Melbourne.
READ MORE: F1 team confirm just ONE car will race Australian Grand Prix
It marks a welcome return for the Spaniard, who is back in he SF-24 this weekend having recovered from appendicitis surgery that caused him to miss the most recent Saudi Arabian Grand Prix where he was replaced by British star Oliver Bearman.
Sainz had looked sharp throughout the weekend's practice sessions but it appear his judgement at the end of FP3 may be the only thing in question.
False start Sainz
The 29-year-old appeared to break FIA protocol by carrying out a practice start not in accordance with 10.3 of their race notes, which read:
"All drivers carrying out a practice start must do so by pulling as far forward on the grid as possible and, if necessary, should wait for others to carry out a start before getting to a grid position further forward.
"Under no circumstances should a driver make a practice start if another car is still stationary in front of him on the same side of the grid."
Sainz though escaped punishment for the incident though, with stewards instead opting to deliver just a driving reprimand, noting: "Car 55 performed a practice start in violation of the Race Director’s Event Notes, which only permit a practice start once the car has crossed the Line.
"Car 55 had not crossed the line, and while the stewards recognised that the situation ahead of him was confusing, consistent with prior decisions, they issue a Reprimand (driving).
Sainz of course has previous when it comes to the stewards at Albert Park, infamously picking up a time penalty following a collision with Fernando Alonso in the last-gasp race start after a red flag, right at the end of the 2023 race that caused him to tumble well out of the major points.
READ MORE: Hamilton left DISTRAUGHT after Mercedes horror show
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F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
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