Carlos Sainz Jnr has lost his best grid position of the season to date after being penalised for his second yellow flag infringement of the day in Baku.
The Williams driver avoided a grid drop for failing to slow sufficiently for yellow flags in final practice. However stewards hit him with a five-place grid drop when he repeated the offence in qualifying and added two penalty points to his licence, putting him on a total of four.Sainz was reprimanded for his infringement in qualifying as the stewards ruled the yellow flag only appeared briefly during his lap. However Sainz passed multiple yellow flags during Q3 and failed to slow sufficiently.
Stewards’ verdict on Sainz’s final practice infringement
The stewards did not issue a grid drop to Sainz over his infringement in practice after taking into account how briefly the yellow flag was displayed for.
“A single yellow was displayed in marshalling sector six shortly before [Sainz] entered the sector,” the stewards ruled. “Sainz explained that, approaching turn four, he briefly noticed a light signal in his peripheral vision but was not certain that it was yellow. He therefore asked the team by radio whether a yellow flag was being displayed.
“The onboard video also showed that a yellow warning light was flashing on Sainz’s steering wheel, indicating the yellow sector. Sainz explained that in the circumstances he had not been able to pay attention to this warning.
“Approaching turn four, Sainz braked slightly earlier than on the reference lap, but subsequently applied less brake pressure. At the exit of turn four he accelerated more moderately than on the reference lap. Overall, he lost approximately 0.10 seconds in the relevant sector.
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“From the exit of turn four Sainz was able to see the green light marking the end of the yellow sector. Sainz acknowledged that, having seen the green light, he should have understood that he was still travelling within a yellow sector. Nevertheless, on the straight approaching the green light he accelerated up to the limiter while still within the yellow sector.
“The stewards considered the fact that the single yellow was displayed only shortly before Sainz entered marshalling sector six as a mitigating circumstance. However, taking into account the visible yellow indication, the warning displayed on the steering wheel, the telemetry and, in particular, Sainz’s acceleration while still within the yellow sector after the green light had become visible, the stewards were not satisfied that Sainz had sufficiently reduced speed and exercised the required caution for a single yellow.
“The stewards therefore determine that Sainz failed to sufficiently reduce speed under the single yellow.
“The standard penalty under the Penalty Guidelines for such an infringement is a drop of five grid positions. However, the stewards considered that there were mitigating circumstances, in particular the very short period between the single yellow being displayed and Sainz entering the relevant marshalling sector. The stewards also considered the penalties applied in comparable cases, where a driving reprimand has consistently been imposed in circumstances warranting mitigation from the standard penalty. The stewards therefore considered a driving reprimand appropriate and consistent with those precedents.”
Stewards’ verdict on Sainz’s qualifying infringement
The stewards did not accept Sainz’s explanation for his second infringement.
“Single yellow flags were displayed in marshalling sectors four and five, in particular after turn two and on the approach to turn thee,” they noted. “The Yellow indications were clearly visible and Sainz had also received a radio warning from the team: “Yellow ahead, lift.” Sainz confirmed at the hearing that he was aware of the yellow Flag situation.
“SAI explained that he intended to demonstrate a reduction in speed across the yellow area as a whole. He stated that he did not consider it necessary to reduce speed on the straight and instead intended to demonstrate his response when approaching and exiting turn three. He considered this to be a “global lift” covering the consecutive Yellow sectors. He further explained that the car which had originally caused the yellow was no longer in the run-off area and that he expected the yellow flags to be withdrawn.
“The stewards did not accept this interpretation. Where consecutive marshalling sectors are subject to yellow flag conditions, a driver must demonstrate a significant reaction to reduce speed in each individual yellow marshalling sector. A reduction in a subsequent sector cannot retrospectively satisfy the requirement applicable to the preceding Yellow sector. The obligation is also not dependent on the driver’s own assessment of whether the original hazard remains present within a particular part of the Yellow sector.
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“The telemetry clearly showed that Sainz’s reaction to the Yellow occurred only in Marshalling Sector 5. There was no meaningful reduction in speed in marshalling sector four which could realistically be attributed to a response to the Yellow. Indeed, Sainz recorded his fastest time of the session in marshalling sector four.
“The stewards therefore did not accept that the subsequent lift in marshalling sector five constituted a sufficient “global” response covering both sectors. This is distinguishable from cases where the telemetry demonstrates a significant response to the Yellow even though the overall sector time reduction is relatively small. In the present case, Sainz was aware of the Yellow, had received an explicit warning from the team, the yellow indications were clearly visible and the telemetry established that he did not demonstrate the required reaction in marshalling sector four.
“The stewards therefore determine that Sainz failed to sufficiently reduce speed under the Single Yellow Flag in marshalling sector four.
“The standard penalty under the Penalty Guidelines for this infringement during qualifying is a drop of five grid positions.”
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