Just 0.3 km/h over the limit: Sainz earns Williams a fine before Sepang race

News Summary

Sainz was recorded at 80.3 km/h, exceeding Sepang’s pit lane limit by 0.3 km/h.
The stewards imposed a €100 fine on Williams.
The decision carries no grid penalty, leaving Sainz’s 13th-place starting position unchanged.

Williams has been fined €100 after Carlos Sainz exceeded the pit lane speed limit by just 0.3 km/h before Sunday’s Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia. The infringement occurred during reconnaissance laps at Sepang, ahead of the Formula 1 race.

Sainz’s No. 55 car was recorded travelling at 80.3 km/h at 14:26 local time, against the event’s 80 km/h limit. The stewards issued their decision at 15:04 on Sunday, 4 October, in document 48.

“The competitor (Atlassian Williams F1 Team) is fined €100,” the decision stated.

“Car 55 exceeded the pit lane speed limit which is set at 80 km/h for this event by 0.3 km/h,” the stewards explained.

The offence was recorded as a breach of Article B1.6.3a of the FIA F1 Regulations. The sanction is a financial penalty against Williams, with no additional sporting punishment specified for Sainz.

Sainz therefore retains 13th on the starting grid, between Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll. The official Sepang grid already includes penalties for Hadjar, Colapinto and Lindblad, whose sanctions altered their starting positions.

The decision was issued while the start of the race was delayed by excessive rain. GRANDE PRÊMIO will cover all the action at Sepang.

F1 today: FAQ

Why did F1 cars lose power before the Bahrain GP in Malaysia?

The FIA identified a combination of low engine speed, low grip, wet-weather energy management settings and Sepang’s sector configuration. It distributed a software update before the race and announced a full review with teams and power unit manufacturers.

Can Kimi Antonelli win the F1 championship in Singapore?

No. Antonelli leads George Russell by 84 points, but even a Singapore Sprint and Grand Prix double would not secure the title. Austin on 25 October is his earliest possible opportunity, depending on his results and those of the remaining contenders.

When is the next F1 race, and is Singapore a Sprint weekend?

The next race is the Singapore Grand Prix on 11 October, with track activity beginning on Friday, 9 October. It is a Sprint weekend: Sprint qualifying takes place on Friday, followed by the Sprint and Grand Prix qualifying on Saturday.