Carlos Sainz Jnr has been given a three-place grid drop for impeding Pierre Gasly in the first phase of qualifying for the Canadian Grand Prix.
He is one of three drivers to receive the same penalty for getting in the way of rivals during today’s qualifying session. The others are Yuki Tsunoda and Lance Stroll.Gasly failed to make the cut for Q2 after being forced to take to the run-off area when he caught the Ferrari in the braking zone for the chicane at the end of the lap.
Sainz’s radio messages indicated his race engineer Ricardo Adami warned him there was a “car behind” and “don’t back off.” Adami repeated the last message, but Sainz slowed on his approach to the chicane. After backing off, he was then passed by Yuki Tsunoda, and Gasly caught the pair of them.
“The driver of car 55 [Sainz] stated that he was surprised that the driver of car 22 [Tsunoda] overtook him into turn 13 and as a result he accelerated late to start his fast lap,” the stewards noted.
The stewards said the data from the drivers’ cars “showed a significant speed differential” between them, and said Tsunoda’s driving did not excuse Sainz failing to stay out of Gasly’s way.
“Although the overtaking move by car 22 took the driver of car 55 by surprise, it is our determination that the driver of car 55 was predominantly to blame and unnecessarily impeded car 10.”
Sainz originally qualified eighth on the grid but will now start 11th. Gasly, who called his rival’s driving “extremely dangerous”, qualified 17th.
Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and
It was the second time on Saturday that Sainz faced an investigation for impeding. He was cleared of holding up Alexander Albon in final practice as the stewards ruled he did not “unnecessarily” impede the Williams, as Sainz was in turn delayed by Max Verstappen ahead of him.
Stroll was given a three-place grid drop after the stewards decided he impeded Esteban Ocon in turn eight during Q2. Stroll refused to move from the racing line despite his team telling him the Alpine was approaching.
“The driver of car 18 [Stroll] stated that although he was aware of car 31 [Ocon] approaching, he had no choice but to remain on the dry racing line because his tyres (soft compound) were cold and if he had not, he would have crashed due to the wet nature of the track.
“However the team did make him aware of the closeness of car 31 and it is our view that he could have reduced speed on the straight between turns seven and eight and allowed car 31 past. Because of this, he unnecessarily impeded car 31.”
The stewards also gave Tsunoda a three-place grid penalty for impeding Nico Hulkenberg. They determined Tsunoda should have got out of Hulkenberg’s way after the AlphaTauri driver ran wide at turn 10.
Tsunoda told the stewards he was still trying to improve his time but this defence was rejected after it was pointed out his error had cost him three seconds.
Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and
“Car 27 [Hulkenberg] and car 22 [Tsunoda] were both on fast laps with 22 in front,” the stewards explained. “Car 27 was gaining on car 22 and going into turn 10, car 22 went wide and then came back on the track in front of car 27.
“The driver of car 22 considered that he was still on his fast lap despite the fact that at that point he was approximately three seconds slower than his previous lap time.
“We determine that the driver of car 22 unnecessarily impeded car 27. After going wide at turn 10 he could have abandoned his lap and kept off the racing line. This would have avoided any impeding.”
However the stewards cleared Tsunoda of impeding Charles Leclerc in another incident. They ruled the AlphaTauri driver backed off after catching Logan Sargeant’s Williams at turn 10, shortly before the Ferrari caught him.
“Car 22 [Tsunoda] was slowed by car 2 [Sargeant] in the area of turn 10 and as a result aborted his push lap part-way down the straight between turns 12 and 13,” the stewards ruled. “Meanwhile Car 16 was on a push lap closing rapidly.
“The driver of car 16 [Leclerc] stated that he backed off ‘as a precaution’ and conceded that this was a difficult situation for the team of car 22 to manage, in the short distance prior to turn 13. Accordingly we determine that car 22 did not unnecessarily impede car 16.”
Updated 2023 Canadian Grand Prix grid
Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and
Become a RaceFans Supporter
RaceFans is run thanks in part to the generous support of its readers. By contributing £1 per month or £12 per year (or the same in whichever currency you use) you can help cover the costs of creating, hosting and developing RaceFans today and in the future.
Become a RaceFans Supporter today and browse the site ad-free. Sign up or find out more via the links below:
2023 Canadian Grand Prix
- Norris ‘even more’ sure Canada penalty was wrong after review request fails
- McLaren seeking more than just downforce gains from major upgrade
- Winning more races won’t necessarily lead to F1 seat – Palou
- Red Bull’s testing restriction will “massively affect” 2024 car development
- Schumacher’s set-up input gives Mercedes a “super advantage” – Wolff
Proesterchen_nli
18th June 2023, 0:02
Carlos got lucky with impeding Pierre.
Jere (@jerejj)
18th June 2023, 6:43
In a way, yes, because he finished the highest.
Leroy (@g-funk)
18th June 2023, 0:03
It was super dangerous, not the only time he was investigated for it this weekend and not even the only time he did the same thing in qualy, with Albon also nearly clipping him at full speed at the same corner. I think points in his license in addition to the grid drop are warranted.
Euro Brun (@eurobrun)
18th June 2023, 1:40
Argee. These licence points really don’t mean anything
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
18th June 2023, 1:44
Yes, I thought so too, and I’m one of those who think f1 currently is being too cautious, not racing in full wet conditions, throwing red flags or SC or VSC as soon as a car stops and so on, but this was over 300 kmh and in the middle of the track; f1 cars are very safe nowadays, but if there’s a way to risk a deadly accident it’s this.
slowmo (@slowmo)
18th June 2023, 0:10
Should have been a double penalty and 6 place drop as he held up multiple cars and it was incredibly dangerous. The FIA need to start just disqualifying cars for slowing excessively in qualifying. It would only take a couple of penalties then this would stop overnight.
JacobC
18th June 2023, 2:00
I agree. I actually was talking to other fans we and speculated he could’ve gotten up to 9 if the stewards were to look at the Albon incident he just barely got away with.
János
18th June 2023, 0:18
Just introduce a maximum delta time for slow laps or force the teams to employ spotters that can warn the drivers.
It’s getting ridiculous at this point…
Pinnacle of motorsport my a**
MichaelN
18th June 2023, 0:32
No need to be complex. The FIA Code already states that “It is not permitted to drive any car unnecessarily slowly, erratically or in a manner deemed potentially dangerous to other drivers at any time.”
JacobC
18th June 2023, 2:04
The first car to get a black flag for doing it will stop the practice cold.
JA
18th June 2023, 5:40
If so it should be for the 3. sector alone.
Jere (@jerejj)
18th June 2023, 6:45
@János Maximum has already existed for a long time.
Nikos (@exeviolthor)
18th June 2023, 0:25
This was not just impeding, but very dangerous as well. The only fair punishment would be a DSQ from qualifying.
PMP
18th June 2023, 0:40
No penalty points?
SjaakFoo (@sjaakfoo)
18th June 2023, 0:49
In the future impeding should be an immediate black flag DSQ from the session for the car in question. Doesn’t matter if it’s the driver or engineers “fault.” I betcha all the shenanigans will be over right quick once that rule is introduced.
Pedro (@)
18th June 2023, 1:00
Should’ve been 6 place drop and penalty points in his license
Tommy C (@tommy-c)
18th June 2023, 1:06
Far out, that’s incredibly lenient!
Nick T.
18th June 2023, 1:09
I find it deliciously ironic that Leclerc and Sainz are basically starting next to one another. I won’t be surprised if they run into each other and take Albon out in the process.
bernasaurus (@bernasaurus)
18th June 2023, 1:18
Nobody wants to see drivers get penalties, and certainly not from practices or qualifying sessions.
But how many times this weekend? Sometimes Carlos would move across and sometimes he wouldn’t. That’s not great when Albon is approaching in the wet at those speeds. The driver behind just has to choose and hope.
Alex can be seen as a ‘whiner’, and there’s probably some merit in that, but I think him and others were were put in dangerous situations for no good reason.
It’s not just the immediate car or two behind, those can see Carlos, which is a big advantage whether they chose to brake / abort / cut the chicane. But others behind further behind arrive at a very strange situation and have no idea what’s going on.
I don’t believe for a second Carlos has spent his weekend in Montreal repeatedly trying to create incidents. But someone needs to have a word with Ferrari, or whomever it is who is responsible for the communication between driver / engineer/ strategist.
It isn’t working.
Adam (@rocketpanda)
18th June 2023, 2:47
I think Sainz’s penalty is remarkably lenient for dawdling around on a straight, right near the braking zone when cars on faster laps are coming directly at him. He left Gasly with nowhere to go and if that run off hadn’t have been there where was Gasly going to go? The second time with Albon he barely left any room for him despite him being on a hotlap and arguably Albon was coming at him even faster than Gasly had. Just looked like he was asleep at the wheel for the whole session to be honest.
Hiland (@flyingferrarim)
18th June 2023, 3:01
F1 needs to look into stopping this parking lot situation that happens in the final two corners. It is absolutely insane and dangerous that this is continually allowed. This is starting to happen more frequently in practices as well. If its a tire temp issue, then Pirelli need to make a tire that operates in a larger window because this is dangerous stuff especially when throwing in tough track conditions as they where today.
JA
18th June 2023, 5:26
Three places only for Sainz?! What is this, amateur hour?
We need deletion of the offending drivers best lap on top of the 3 grid places for every driver as there is no justice in Sainz being able to impede a minimum of two drivers and start way in front of them as a result.
Jere (@jerejj)
18th June 2023, 6:46
3 is the standard.
x303 (@x303)
18th June 2023, 9:25
Well, @jerejj Sainz impeded Tsunoda an Gasly in one move, so a six places drop was expected. In the end, only three places and no penalty points? That’s very lenient.
Jere (@jerejj)
18th June 2023, 6:46
As expected for all three.
Murphy Alexander (@murphyoalexander)
18th June 2023, 6:58
And what about Hamilton, at the hairpin? Nothing? Cruising on the racing line coming into the hairpin, he even the classic “i couldnt see him”, sainz should’ve said i couldn’t see him. It not sainz`s fault, its Ferrari and their MIND BOGGLING situational awareness, Leclerc wanting slicks but Ferrari left it too late somebody should be telling him there’s a fast car coming up behind, but then that ruins his run, these tyres and this window, you saw the difference with merc, couldn’t get heat and nowhere, with heat third and fourth, its too things, the prep lap is crucial and Ferrari’s incompetent…….ive lost words about Ferrari`s strategy calls.
Murphy Alexander (@murphyoalexander)
18th June 2023, 7:03
Well this one time its only Sainz`s own fault, he was told dont back off twice and he backed off.
baasbas
18th June 2023, 8:10
So… the stewarding seems eratic at best this session. Random lucky transgressions were unpunished even.. would you describe the stewards as laymen is the big question though..? and would they penalize you for it
GechiChan (@gechichan)
18th June 2023, 8:54
Lewis also impeded quite badly another driver, almost making contact at the hairpin. His explanation was “I couldn’t see him” which is usually a slam-dunk because the team surely could see the car behind was on a qualy lap. Was that even investigated?