Crash Carlos Sainz, Sergio Pérez: The verdict of the FIA ​​/ Formula 1

Two broken cars at Ferrari and Red Bull Racing, after the violent collision between Carlos Sainz and Sergio Pérez shortly before the end of the thrilling Azerbaijan Grand Prix at the Baku City Circuit.

While Sergio Pérez was ranting on the radio in the seconds after the crash (“What the hell is that guy doing? What the hell! Is he crazy or what? Damn idiot!”), Sainz spoke up, audibly perplexed: “I can’t understand what happened.”

The Spanish GP winner later said: “I had saved my tyres wisely, so I had reserves and was able to make up ground quickly at the end. I overtook Checo when he was battling with Leclerc.”

“After turn 2 I drove my normal line, I didn't do any strange maneuvers. I still can't understand how the collision could have happened.”

“Pérez had enough space on the left side. Charles in front of me pulled to the left, as is normal on this part of the track when approaching the next corner. I just copied his movement, there was no sudden steering movement from me. I also didn't do anything different than I had done in the previous laps at that point. Unfortunately, the accident was pretty serious when we crashed into the concrete wall on the left.”

Former GP driver Christian Klien assessed the mess as a Formula 1 expert from ServusTV as follows: “Sainz did not drive abruptly to the left side, that's true, but of course he moved over to defend his position against Pérez towards the third corner.” Pérez has to reckon with that. All in all, I don't see any predominant blame.”

This view is also evidently shared by the Baku race commissioners Tim Mayer (USA), Matteo Perini (Italy), Johnny Herbert (Great Britain) and Danil Solomin (Azerbaijan). They have ruled that neither of the two drivers is primarily to blame, and the proceedings have therefore been closed.

The FIA ​​explains it this way: “The race stewards are listening to the driver of car 11 (Sergio Pérez), the driver of car 55 (Carlos Sainz) and team representatives and are also checking GPS data and values ​​from the racing cars as well as video recordings.”

“Sainz and Perez collided just after Turn 2 on lap 50. This is a situation where a small contact had significant consequences. However, the stewards investigated how the incident occurred, not the consequences.”

“Sainz overtook Pérez after Turn 1 and was ahead at the apex of Turn 2. When Sainz exited the corner in a less than ideal manner, Pérez moved to the inside of Sainz. Sainz reported that he noticed Pérez on his left side. Since Pérez was a little behind, the Mexican was able to better judge the position of the two vehicles. As the two cars approached the right-hand wall at the exit of Turn 2, they were about a meter apart.”

“From that point on and throughout the entire incident, neither driver steered uncontrollably, but both kept their steering very neutral.” The stewards checked the drivers' driving line in the previous laps. Sainz felt he was on or close to his normal ideal line, which forms a slight angle away from the right-hand wall. From the exit to the point of contact, he moved about one car's width further to the left.”

“It is obvious that, although Sainz was ahead and had the right to take his line, he was moving slightly towards a car that he had limited visibility. At the same time, Pérez's line was not unusual, but he could have done more to avoid the car that he had a better view of.”

“The race stewards therefore conclude that this was a racing incident for which neither driver was primarily at fault and are therefore taking no action.”

Azerbaijan GP, ​​Baku City Circuit

01. Oscar Piastri (AUS), McLaren, 1:32:58.007 h
02. Charles Leclerc (MC), Ferrari, +10.910 sec.
03. George Russell (GB), Mercedes, +31.328
04. Lando Norris (GB), McLaren, +36.143
05. Max Verstappen (NL), Red Bull Racing, +1:17.098 min
06. Fernando Alonso (E), Aston Martin, +1:25.468
07. Alex Albon (T), Williams, +1 lap, +1:27.396
08. Franco Colapinto (RA), Williams, +1:29.541
09. Lewis Hamilton (GB), Mercedes, +1:32.401
10. Oliver Bearman (GB), Haas, +1:33.127
11. Nico Hülkenberg (D), Haas, +1:33.465
12. Pierre Gasly (F), Alpine, +1:57.189
13. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS), Racing Bulls, +2:26.907
14. Guanyu Zhou (RCH), Clean, +2:28.841
15. Esteban Ocon (F), Alpine, +1 lap
16. Valtteri Bottas (FIN), Sauber, +1 lap
Out of
Carlos Sainz (E), Ferrari, crash
Sergio Pérez (MEX), Red Bull Racing, accident
Lance Stroll (CDN), Aston Martin, brakes
Yuki Tsunoda (J), Racing Bulls, Crash

World Championship standings (after 17 of 24 Grands Prix and 3 of 6 sprints)

driver
01. Verstappen 313 points
02. Norris254
03. Leclerc235
04. Piastri 222
05.Sainz184
06. Hamilton166
07. Russell143
08. Perez 143
09.Alonso-58
10. Walk 24
11. Hulkenberg 22
12. Tsunoda22
13. Albon12
14. Ricciardo12
15. Gasly 8
16. Oliver Bearman (GB) 7
17. Magnussens 6
18. Ocon 5
19. Colapinto 4
20. Zhou-0
21. Logan Sargeant (USA) 0
22. Bottas-0

Constructors' Cup
02. McLaren 476 points
01. Red Bull Racing 456
03. Ferrari 425
04. Mercedes-Benz 309
05. Aston-Martin 82
06. Racing Bulls 34
07. Haas-29
09. Williams 16
08. Alpine 13
10. Clean 0