The Spanish driver received a penalty for the next Grand Prix that could benefit the Pilar native.
The International Automobile Federation (FIA) imposed a sanction to Carlos Sainz of the Williams team after the incident with Kimi Antonelli at the United States Grand Prix. The Spanish driver will lose five positions on the starting grid of the next Mexican GP, which opens an opportunity for Franco Colapinto improve your placement on the grid.
He clash between Sainz and Antonelli occurred in the turn 15 of the Circuit of the Americas. The Spaniard attempted a risky overtake that ended in a collision, damaging Antonelli’s car and forcing him to abandon the race. The FIA determined that Sainz was the main person responsible of the incident, since he did not respect the space necessary to complete the maneuver.
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The reasons for the sanction against Carlos Sainz
The FIA stewards analyzed the images and recordings of the cars to make a decision. According to the official report, Sainz argued that Antonelli closed the door abruptly, which prevented him from avoiding contact. However, tests showed that The front axle of Sainz’s car was never aligned with Antonelli’s rearview mirror before the apex of the curve.
The FIA verdict was clear: “The driver of car 55 had no right to be given space at the apex.” As a consequence, Sainz received two points on his super license and one five position penalty on the grid of the Mexican GP. This penalty is applied because the driver could not comply with the on-track penalty due to his abandonment.
Sainz admitted that the incident was a miscalculation: “I was coming fast, I made a similar overtake before, but this time he closed me down and I blocked the brakes.” Although he acknowledged his share of responsibility, the FIA stood by its ruling, which will affect his position in the next race.
How the sanction against Sainz would favor Franco Colapinto
The penalty for Sainz directly benefits Franco Colapinto at the Mexican GP. If the Argentine manages to qualify within the five places following the Spaniard, will automatically advance one position on the starting grid.
This situation is a strategic opportunity for Colapinto, who will seek to take advantage of the sanction to improve his location at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. The penalty for Sainz also affects other drivers, but the Argentine could be one of the most favored if he maintains a competitive pace in the classification.
He Mexican GP is shaping up to be a key race for Colapinto, who will try capitalize on this advantage to score points in the championship. The sanction against Sainz not only modifies the dynamics of the grid, but also opens possibilities so that other pilots, like the Argentine, improve your positions without needing to surpass their rivals on the track.
Source: Ambito
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