Carlos Sainz has been issued a warning by the FIA stewards following an incident during Sprint Qualifying for the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort. The incident comes amid mounting pressure on the Spanish driver after he recently committed his long-term future to Williams.
The incident occurred when Sainz was deemed to have driven unnecessarily slowly approaching Turn 13, prompting an investigation under Article 12.2.1 of the F1 regulations. In official FIA documents, Sainz explained that he slowed down to let Car 16 pass, but admitted he could have done more to recover time before the pit entry.
After hearing from Sainz and a Williams team representative, the stewards decided to issue a formal warning. This adds to a difficult weekend for Sainz, who has struggled to find rhythm on the damp Zandvoort circuit from the outset.
During the sole free practice session, Sainz ran wide several times and complained about the balance of the FW48, ending the session in last place, P22. His fortunes did not improve in Sprint Qualifying, as he was eliminated in SQ1 while teammate Alex Albon advanced to SQ2. Sainz is set to start the Sprint from 18th position.
This incident adds to the list of challenges facing Williams this weekend. The Grove-based team continues to struggle for pace in both single-lap and race trim. Despite the positive news of Sainz and Albon remaining with the team, on-track performance still falls short of expectations.
According to a report from Motorsport Week, this situation underscores the significant work Williams still has to do to improve car performance, especially on demanding tracks like Zandvoort. Sainz is expected to face a tough weekend, though he remains optimistic about maximising his results.
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