After the Miami Grand Prix at Hard Rock Stadium, Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz initially finished fourth but received a five-second penalty, dropping him to fifth behind Red Bull’s Sergio Perez. Sainz’s penalty stemmed from a collision with McLaren’s Piastri during a battle for position, altering the race’s outcome.
During the race, Sainz engaged in a fierce duel with Piastri for fourth place following a safety car intervention, which reshaped the strategic landscape. Sainz, frustrated by what he perceived as overly defensive moves by Piastri, expressed his displeasure over the radio when no penalty was issued against the McLaren driver.
Despite being informed that no further action would be taken, Sainz continued his aggressive pursuit of Piastri. Attempting an overtaking maneuver into Turn 17, Sainz’s late braking and subsequent rear-end slide led to contact with Piastri’s McLaren, necessitating a pit stop for a new front wing and ending Piastri’s chances of scoring points.
Following an investigation, race stewards determined Sainz responsible for the collision and imposed a five-second time penalty, along with one penalty point on his racing license. The stewards’ report highlighted Sainz’s late braking and loss of rear control as contributing factors to the incident, concluding that he was predominantly to blame for the collision.
While acknowledging mitigating circumstances, such as the slight loss of control by Sainz, the stewards opted for a lesser penalty than the standard 10-second penalty with two penalty points, imposing a five-second penalty with one penalty point due to the nature of the incident. Despite the penalty, Sainz’s performance showcased his competitive spirit, albeit marred by the collision with Piastri.
