Sainz scared by the stewards: No penalty after holding up Albon
F1 News
- Ludo van Denderen
Carlos Sainz will 'just' start Sunday's Monaco Grand Prix from third position. The Ferrari driver briefly had to fear a grid penalty after the stewards investigated whether he had driven in Alexander Albon's way during qualifying. However, the stewards concluded that Sainz could have reacted differently to the Thai, who was on his fast lap. But they also found that there was no violation.
Sainz will no doubt breathe a sigh of relief. Overtaking on the Monaco circuit is virtually impossible, so a grid penalty - often of three spots - would have greatly reduced his podium chances. With third place on the grid, the Spaniard retains a nice prospect of a podium. Charles Leclerc, his teammate at Ferrari starts the race from first place, by the way.
Nico Hulkenberg was also investigated for impeding a colleague, as he got in the way of Esteban Ocon, but similarly Sainz, he will not be punished.
