Williams' Carlos Sainz Handed Three-Place Grid Penalty For Impeding Lewis Hamilton At Japanese GP

Formula One stewards found Sainz had unnecessarily impeded the seven-time world champion at turn one after completing a quick lap while Hamilton was just starting his in the Q2 second phase.

The Briton had to go wide and off-track as a result.

“(Sainz) stated that he did not have any warning from the team, of the approach of Car 44 (Hamilton) on a push lap," they said in a statement.

“He stated that he was caught completely by surprise and because of the approach speed of Car 44, and the angle of his car, he could not see Car 44 in his mirrors."

Stewards said the standard penalty should be applied, regardless of whether it was the fault of the driver or team. Sainz’s teammate Alex Albon starts ninth on Sunday.

Verstappen Takes Pole

World champion Max Verstappen took pole position for the Japanese Grand Prix, stunning the McLarens with a late flying lap to lock up top spot on the grid for the fourth straight year at Suzuka.

Championship leader Lando Norris will start on the front row beside the Dutchman, with the other McLaren driver Oscar Piastri, who won in China two weeks ago, on the second row alongside Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.

Verstappen’s time of one minute 26.983 seconds was a lap record at the circuit where has won from pole for the last three years and 0.012 seconds faster that the time Norris clocked.

It was the four-times world champions’ first pole position since the Austrian Grand Prix in June last year, although he was fastest in qualifying later in the season in Qatar only to be handed a one-place penalty.