F1 Driver Hit With Penalty for Mexico GP as FIA Document Released
The FIA have released a statement confirming that a Formula One driver has been handed a brutal penalty for the Mexico Grand Prix.
On Sunday, reigning F1 champion reminded fans that he is not yet out of the title race this season as he topped off what was a perfect weekend with a win in the United States Grand Prix.
Across the grid, several drivers produced impressive performances, with Ferrari's Charles Leclerc impressively holding on to the team's first podium since the Belgium Grand Prix in July.
The result means is now just 40 points behind championship leader Oscar Piastri, with five race weekends left in the 2025 calendar.
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But the race at Texas' Circuit of the Americas will certainly be one to forget for one driver, as it has been confirmed that his driving has landed him a penalty for the upcoming Mexico Grand Prix.
Throughout the early stages of the United States Grand Prix, Williams driver Carlos Sainz was battling with the Mercedes of Kimi Antonelli and attempted to make a bold overtake into Turn 15 on Lap 7.
Unfortunately for both drivers, the pair collided, ending Sainz's race early while Antonelli was sent spinning off track before rejoining further down the order.
And now things have gotten even worse for the Williams driver as, following an investigation into the incident, the FIA have confirmed that he will be given five-place grid penalty for the upcoming Mexico City Grand Prix.
A document released after the hearing reads: “Car 55 (Sainz) attempted an inside overtake on Car 12 (Antonelli) at Turn 15 and a collision between the two cars occurred at the apex.
“The driver of Car 55 maintained that he had expected the driver of Car 12 to leave him space at the apex but Car 12 turned in early and Car 55 locked brakes when it became clear that a collision was unavoidable.
“He suggested that the Driver of Car 12 ought to have anticipated an overtake attempt by Car 55 and left space to avoid contact. However, at no point prior to the apex was the front axle of Car 55 alongside or ahead of the mirror of Car 12.
“Therefore, according to the Driving Standards Guidelines, Car 55 had not earned a right to be left space at the apex. The Stewards therefore determine that the Driver of Car 55 was predominantly to blame for the collision and a penalty is applied accordingly."
Typically, penalties would be applied to the race in which the incident occurred, but as Sainz was not able to finish the United States Grand Prix, it carries on to the next round.
This means that Sainz will serve his penalty at the Mexico City Grand Prix this weekend, with the Spaniard starting five places lower than whatever he secures in qualifying on Saturday.
Sainz will also be given two penalty points for the incident, taking his total in the past 12 months to four.
Speaking about the incident after the US Grand Prix, Sainz claimed that the crash "looks a lot worse from the outside than what it felt from the inside' and suggested that it was a shame for both drivers.
Ben McCrum