Carlos Sainz has called for major rule changes following the yellow flag controversy at last weekend’s Formula 1 Austrian Grand Prix.
Max Verstappen’s high profile Q3 crash in Austria caused controversy when George Russell snatched pole position away from Charles Leclerc in the closing seconds.
Driver dissatisfaction centred on the decision to deploy single yellow flags, which required drivers to lift off the throttle without dramatically slowing.
This led to Russell gaining time, despite slowing down, while others, such as championship leader Kimi Antonelli, opting to back off completley.
Sainz, chairman of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA), voiced his displeasure at the situation.
“It’s clear to me, at least, that that situation should have been a double yellow or a red [flag],” he said to media, including Motorsport Week.
“The way George handled it, I think, was perfect for what the rule book allows you to do, and he deserved that pole position because he played the rules to perfection.
“But he should have never been, I think, allowed to finish that lap or to close a lap in that kind of dangerous situation.
“At the same time, if Max would have been on pole in the first run, and then he produces that crash, and then not everyone is in a red flag, and no one improves the lap, I think it would be unfair for George, Kimi, and everyone, because the guy that is on pole is not letting us improve the lap time.”
Carlos Sainz calls for changes
Sainz revealed that he had the opportunity to secure pole position last year by crashing out, but opted not to.
He then revealed his proposal – any driver who crashes out in qualifying is awarded a grid penalty.
“I could have done last year in Baku when I was on pole and I was the first car out of the pits,” he explained.
“I said, if I crash now, I’m on pole. We all have these thoughts, and we all have these second thoughts and we all know how the rule book works.
“For that, I think that anyone who generates a yellow flag or a red flag in a qualifying should be three place grid drop, so at least you get penalised and you get disincentivised.”
“I will potentially bring forward as an idea, and then we can maybe discuss if it should be the case or not,” Sainz said of floating the concept with the GPDA.
Driver meetings already underway?
Sainz confirmed that he will be proposing meetings with the rest of the drivers to secure consensus on changing the rules to introduce this new deterrent.
He highlighted previous races where he believes flags have impacted qualifying, reaffirming his push for the sporting regulations to be updated.
“I think this weekend, because of being a Sprint, we don’t have a proper meeting about it, but I think we should,” he said.
“As there’s one guy behind you, it’s unfair, because that guy doesn’t get a chance to finish the lap,”
“The same time, you could argue the same thing that is, if you have 10 minutes to complete a lap, why do we all leave it to the last moment?
“Why don’t we all go [with] 18 minutes to go, post our lap, and we are sure that a yellow doesn’t – or a red – disrupt.
“I’ve seen in so many places by now, that in places like Bahrain and Monaco, people are forcing yellows in Q1, and Q2, and Q3, and it’s impossible to steward, unless you are a very clever ex-F1 driver to know how it works.
“With all this, not saying Max did it on purpose, I think Max had a failure – Max was not even on pole so he had zero incentive to do that – but I think we need to come up with ideas to try and solve those.”
Sainz’s proposal is radical and would change how drivers approach qualifying, given the consequences for crashing. Whether he can secure support from his fellow drivers remains to be seen.
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