Qatar Grand Prix

Sainz avoids grid drop for Qatar Grand Prix

Ian Parkes Sunday 21 November 2021 12:39

Sainz avoids grid drop for Qatar Grand Prix

Carlos Sainz has avoided a grid penalty for the Qatar Grand Prix after being investigated for an alleged breach of F1's yellow-flag rules.

The decision follows an incident at the end of qualifying on Saturday at the Losail International Circuit when Pierre Gasly sustained a puncture on his AlphaTauri as a result of a front-wing failure.

Yellow flags were briefly shown in the final sector before quickly switched to double-waved yellows.

After being investigated for a single-yellow breach, which required Sainz to slow and be prepared to change direction, a stewards' report read: "The driver stated that although he did not see the yellow flag, he did see that car 10 [Gasly] was stationary on the right of the pit straight.

"[He] therefore assumed that there was the probability that he was in a yellow-flag area, so made a significant reduction in speed in the relevant mini-sector.

"The stewards confirmed this from the telemetry. He thus complied with the race directors' event notes and Appendix H of the International Sporting Code."

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Sainz avoids grid drop for Qatar Grand Prix

Sainz avoids grid drop for Qatar Grand Prix