Sainz blames blue flag failure for Piastri clash in Hungary

Carlos Sainz has blamed an electronic blue-flag failure for his Lap 38 collision with Oscar Piastri in Hungary, but stewards and Piastri rejected that reasoning. The contact forced Piastri onto the grass and played a key role in Lando Norris's eventual victory for McLaren.

Why it matters:

• The clash cost Piastri time after his second stop, allowing Norris to pit the next lap and take the net lead just as McLaren was chasing its first win of the season.
• It also exposed vulnerabilities in the FIA's electronic systems, raising questions about how race control communicates with drivers when standard protocols fail.

The details:

• Sainz was battling Fernando Alonso when Piastri tried to lap him between Turns 2 and 3. He said his steering wheel never displayed the blue-flag warning, leaving him unaware Piastri was closing in.
• The FIA confirmed electronic blue-flag issues during the race, with several drivers getting incomplete or missing dashboard alerts. Marshals used physical flags and trackside panels, but confusion lingered over which cars were being signaled.
• Stewards held Sainz wholly responsible and reduced his penalty from 10 seconds to five solely because Piastri was in his blind spot, not because of the system failure.
• Piastri fumed over the radio in the moment and later insisted Sainz's excuse was unacceptable, noting that marshals were still waving traditional blue flags around the circuit.

What's next:

The FIA faces pressure to fix its electronic systems before the next round. Sainz and Williams need more pace to avoid constant lapping, while Piastri's late gearbox failure on Lap 56 only compounded a frustrating afternoon.