Sainz suggests Piastri 'could have been more careful' after Hungarian GP clash

Carlos Sainz has shifted blame onto Oscar Piastri after their Hungarian Grand Prix collision, insisting a blue flag failure on his steering wheel left him unaware the McLaren was approaching. The Lap 38 clash in Budapest occurred while Sainz battled Fernando Alonso, with the Spaniard cutting across Piastri at Turn 2 before blocking him through Turn 5, earning a five-second penalty.

Why it matters:

The incident derailed Piastri's race while he was defending the lead from teammate Lando Norris. The lost time allowed Norris to overcut him, and though the Australian passed Sainz at Turns 6 and 7, he later retired with a gearbox failure 14 laps from the end. The clash highlights the tension between backmarkers and frontrunners.

The details:

• Sainz claimed his steering wheel failed to display blue flag lights, leaving him unaware Piastri was trying to lap him.
• Piastri dismissed the explanation, calling Sainz's driving "unacceptable" and insisting the Williams driver should "look in the mirror."
• The contact forced Piastri wide at Turn 2 before Sainz blocked him through Turn 5, with the pass only completed two corners later.
• Sainz argued Piastri could have been more cautious given the blue flag issues several drivers faced during the race.

Between the lines:

Sainz's deflection underscores the frustration of a former race winner now fighting at the back of the grid. His insistence that Piastri should have known better suggests a driver protecting his reputation amid a difficult season. For Piastri, the message was clear: leaders expect professionalism from lapped traffic regardless of technical excuses.