Doc 70 - Infringement - Car 55 - Failing to follow Race Directors Instructions - Practice Start

Infringements/Decisions

Document 70: Infringement - Car 55 - Failing to follow Race Directors Instructions - Practice Start

  • Date: 26 September 2026
  • From: The Stewards
  • To: The Team Manager, Atlassian Williams F1 Team

Session Details

  • No / Driver: 55 - Carlos Sainz
  • Competitor: Atlassian Williams F1 Team
  • Time: 16:43
  • Session: Reconnaissance Laps

Fact & Infringement

  • Fact: Failure to follow Race Directors instruction.
  • Infringement: Alleged breach of Article 12.2.1.i of the International Sporting Code and non-compliance with Race Director’s Competition Note (item 13.6, document 56) – Practice start infringement.

Decision

Driver: Warning

Reason

  • During the reconnaissance laps, Carlos Sainz approached the Pit Exit without the intention of performing a practice start, while another car was waiting to do so.
  • Paragraph 13.6 of the Race Director’s Competition Notes requires cars not wishing to perform a practice start to cross the white line separating the Pit Exit Road from the track at the earliest opportunity.
  • Instead, Sainz remained within the Pit Exit Road and passed to the right of the waiting car.
  • Mitigating Factor: The team gave the driver an incorrect instruction, which he followed. The stewards considered this a significant mitigating factor, reducing his personal responsibility and warranting a lesser penalty (Warning instead of a Driving Reprimand).

Issued by the Stewards:

  • Gerd Ennser
  • Loïc Bacquelaine
  • Khatuna Julakidze
  • Derek Warwick
  • Danil Solomin

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