News Summary
- Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz made contact while fighting for 17th during the Spanish GP at Madring.
- Alonso accused Sainz of squeezing him towards the wall under braking and referenced the Williams driver’s incidents at the start.
- Sainz was handed a 5-second time penalty for the incident, while Alonso stopped on lap 15 for a new front wing and tyres.
Fernando Alonso was left furious after making contact with Carlos Sainz while the two Spaniards fought for 17th place during Sunday’s Spanish Grand Prix at Madring.
The Aston Martin driver was attempting to challenge the Williams when the pair touched under braking. Alonso immediately complained over the radio about Sainz’s driving, referring both to the collision and incidents involving the Madrid-born driver earlier in the race.
“At the start, he crashed into two people. Now he squeezed me into the wall on braking,” Alonso said over the team radio.
The stewards subsequently investigated the clash and held Sainz responsible, handing the Williams driver a 5-second time penalty.
Alonso, meanwhile, continued with front-wing damage before Aston Martin called him into the pits on lap 15. The team replaced the damaged wing and changed his tyres, costing the two-time world champion significant time.
The incident added another difficult chapter to a frustrating home weekend for both Spanish drivers.
Sainz had already been penalised following qualifying after impeding Valtteri Bottas, receiving a three-place grid drop. The sanction left him starting near the back of the field and ensured both Spaniards would spend the early stages attempting to recover positions rather than fighting near the front.
Their paths eventually crossed in the battle for 17th.
Fernando Alonso criticised Carlos Sainz over the radio after their contact in Madrid (Photo: Reproduction)
Alonso’s radio message made clear that his frustration went beyond the damage to his Aston Martin. He felt Sainz had already been overly aggressive during the opening exchanges before leaving him insufficient room when they fought directly.
Unlike the opening-lap situations referenced by Alonso, however, the contact between the two Spaniards resulted in a sporting sanction.
The stewards’ decision to impose a 5-second penalty on Sainz confirmed that they considered the Williams driver responsible for the collision. The punishment was added to a race that had already begun badly for Sainz after his grid penalty.
For Alonso, the consequences were more immediate. Although the Aston Martin remained driveable, the damaged front wing compromised its performance until the lap-15 stop.
The additional time required to replace it also made an already difficult recovery through the field considerably harder at a circuit where overtaking had been one of the major concerns throughout the weekend.
The clash therefore left both home drivers facing compromised races — Sainz with another penalty and Alonso with the time lost repairing his Aston Martin.
FAQ
Why did Carlos Sainz get a 5-second penalty in the Spanish GP?
Sainz received a 5-second time penalty after making contact with Fernando Alonso while the two were fighting for 17th place at Madring.
What did Fernando Alonso say about Sainz on the radio?
Alonso complained: “At the start, he crashed into two people. Now he squeezed me into the wall on braking.”
Why did Alonso pit on lap 15 in Madrid?
Alonso stopped for Aston Martin to replace his damaged front wing following the contact with Sainz. The team also changed his tyres during the stop.
