Isack Hadjar and Carlos Sainz face post-race investigation at Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Isack Hadjar and Carlos Sainz each face post-race investigations, for alleged practice start infringements at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

Hadjar, who replaced Yuki Tsunoda in Red Bull's senior team for 2026, recently returned to Formula 1 action after missing three races through wrist injury.

According to reports, both he and driving peer Sainz are facing post-race investigations, relating to practice start infringements en-route to the grid. The latter also received a five-place grid penalty, for rule-breaking during Qualifying.

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Carlos Sainz and Isack Hadjar face post-race investigation at Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Both drivers have received summons from race stewards for after the Azerbaijan Grand Prix concludes, for alleged breaches of starting practice procedure.

Race control notes read: "Incident involving Car 55 (Sainz) noted - failing to follow race directors' instructions. Practice start infringement.

"Incident involving [Hadjar] will be investigated after the race. Failing to follow race directors' instructions - practice start infringement."

Any potential penalties will be imposed after evaluating the available facts and evidence related to the drivers' alleged breaches.

With the race currently underway, both Hadjar and Sainz's outcome on the grid could be affected after the Azerbaijan Grand Prix's conclusion.

Precedent does exist for potential penalties, with Lewis Hamilton experiencing a similar scenario in Sochi, back in 2021.

The seven-time champion was handed two five-second penalties after conducting practice starts away from the designated Formula 1 area. Beyond time penalties, Hamilton also received two points on his super-licence.

However, hours after the initial verdict was reached, the stewards partially rescinded the decision, after gaining additional information from the then Mercedes driver.

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Why did Carlos Sainz drop five places on the Azerbaijan Grand Prix grid?

On the Williams driver's rule-breaking Qualifying, the FIA stewards’ document said: “[Sainz] explained that he intended to demonstrate a reduction in speed across the yellow area as a whole.

"He stated that he did not consider it necessary to reduce speed on the straight and instead intended to demonstrate his response when approaching and exiting Turn 3.

“He considered this to be a ‘global lift’ covering the consecutive yellow sectors. He further explained that the car which had originally caused the yellow was no longer in the run-off area and that he expected the yellow flags to be withdrawn.

“The stewards did not accept this interpretation. Where consecutive marshalling sectors are subject to yellow flag conditions, a driver must demonstrate a significant reaction to reduce speed in each individual yellow marshalling sector,” the document continued.

“A reduction in a subsequent sector cannot retrospectively satisfy the requirement applicable to the preceding yellow sector. The stewards therefore determine that SAI failed to sufficiently reduce speed under the single yellow flag in Marshalling Sector 4.

“The standard penalty under the Penalty Guidelines for this infringement during Qualifying is a drop of five grid positions,” it concluded.

The 32-year-old could face further punishment after the Azerbaijan Grand Prix concludes, for additional practice start infringements.

The Williams driver qualified ninth for the race, making it into Q3 for the first time this F1 season. After being penalised for failing to slow sufficiently under yellow flags during Qualifying, Sainz started in 14th, with Franco Colapinto assuming ninth.

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