Not only Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen received a penalty after qualifying in Qatar, the Ferrari team also had to go to the stewards with Carlos Sainz because of the incident with Lewis Hamilton – and was punished.
Of all things, the incident in which future Ferrari star Lewis Hamilton saw the world’s oldest GP racing team receive a penalty after qualifying for the Qatar GP. Because Sainz drove from the pits during the last practice session when Hamilton drove on the pit lane. In doing so, the Scuderia violated Article 34.14 a) of the sporting regulations.
At the meeting with race managers Garry Connelly, Mathieu Remmerie, Derek Warwick and Amro Al-Hamad, not only team representatives from Ferrari and Carlos Sainz were present, but also the seven-time world champion, who will replace the Spaniard after the season current, and representatives of the Mercedes team were heard.
Sainz himself got off without a penalty, but Ferrari had to pay 5,000 euros because Hamilton had to pass when Sainz went out. In justifying the sentence, the authorities emphasized that, according to his own statement, Sainz drove the car with a short delay when his mechanic gave him the signal to drive because he was not ready.
The 30-year-old from Madrid turned the seventh fastest lap in the final practice and ended up directly behind Hamilton, who was three hundredths of a second faster at the end.
GP-Graduation, Qatar
01. Max Verstappen (NL), Red Bull Racing, 1:20,520 minutes
02. George Russell (GB), Mercedes, 1:20,575
03. Lando Norris (GB), McLaren, 1:20.772
04. Oscar Piastri (AUS), McLaren, 1:20.829
05. Charles Leclerc (MC), Ferrari, 1:20,852
06. Lewis Hamilton (GB), Mercedes, 1:21,011
07. Carlos Sainz (L), Ferrari, 1:21.041
08. Fernando Alonso (E), Aston Martin, 1:21.251
09. Sergio Pérez (MEX), Red Bull Racing, 1:21,425
10. Kevin Magnussen (DK), Haas, 1:21.500
11. Pierre Gasly (F), Alpine, 1:21,437
12. Guanyu Zhou (RCH), Sauber, 1:21,501
13. Valtteri Bottas (FIN), Sauber, 1:21.731
14. Yuki Tsunoda (J), Racing Bulls, 1:21,771
15. Lance Stroll (CDN), Aston Martin, 1:21,911
16. Alex Albon (T), Williams, 1:22,390
17. Liam Lawson (NZ), Racing Bulls, 1:22,411
18. Nico Hulkenberg (D), Haas, 1:22.442
19. Franco Colapinto (RA), Williams, 1:22.594
20. Stephen Ocon (F), Alpine, 1:22.714
