OFFICIAL – Max Verstappen, Carlos Sainz and Sergio Pérez under investigation in Baku: the reasons
09/15/2024 10:18 AM
The incident
The reigning world champion faces a potential penalty for a possible infraction committed under Virtual Safety Car conditions. With a 10-second penalty, Max Verstappen could lose his fifth position to Fernando Alonso.
On the other hand, the final stages of the Azerbaijan GP saw a wheel-to-wheel battle between Carlos Sainz and Sergio Pérez, which ended in a crash. The Spaniard had been closing the gap on his opponent, getting very close on the penultimate lap. The Ferrari driver then attempted a difficult overtake. Up ahead, he found his teammate, Charles Leclerc, in second place and very close.
The Red Bull driver wanted to retake the position, attempting to pass again. However, the two ended up squeezing towards the right-hand wall, which caused a collision. Sergio Pérez and Carlos Sainz crashed, knocking both of them out of the Azerbaijan GP. The Mexican driver’s anger was summed up in two words: “What an idiot!” he shouted over the team radio after the crash.
The collision allowed George Russell to move up to third, giving Mercedes a podium finish. Charles Leclerc finished second, trying but failing to take the win from a determined Oscar Piastri. With this result, McLaren overtakes Red Bull in the Constructors’ Championship (here is the updated standings after the Baku race).
Carlos Sainz and Sergio Pérez were later summoned by the race stewards to discuss the details of the incident. Since neither finished the race, it’s likely that if the FIA finds one of them at fault, they will be given a grid penalty for the next race, which takes place next weekend in Singapore at the Marina Bay street circuit.
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