Carlos Sainz has suggested the FIA handles sporting problems differently depending on which drivers are affected, after a Race Control error left some cars without Overtake Mode during the first part of Sprint Qualifying at the Singapore Grand Prix. The FIA admitted “human error” in a statement on Friday. Sainz, who qualified last, starts Saturday’s 21-lap sprint from the back of the grid.
What Happened in SQ1
SQ1 was red-flagged after debris from Sergio Pérez’s Cadillac. A red flag automatically suspends Overtake Mode, the setting that gives drivers extra electrical energy on a qualifying lap, and race control must switch it back on by hand when the session resumes.
That did not happen. When the mistake became apparent, Overtake Mode was switched on for 27 seconds and then switched off again. The FIA said the second and third parts of qualifying were not affected.
A separate problem hit the same session. A timing issue meant some laps were not registered at the end of SQ1, which produced an incorrect order at the chequered flag. Formula One Management used a backup system to restore the correct times. The FIA said the two problems were unrelated.
What the FIA Said
In its statement, the FIA described a “human error in Race Control unrelated to the timing issue”. It did not mention a software fault.
Sainz’s Complaint
Sainz finished 22nd and last with a best lap of 1:37.376. Six drivers were eliminated in SQ1: Sainz, his Williams teammate Alex Albon, Arvid Lindblad, Lance Stroll, Valtteri Bottas and Pérez.
Sainz said some cars had a clear advantage on their laps. “Half of the cars did the lap with half-a-second quicker engine than the others,” he said. He also said his Williams lost power on his flying lap and described it as a software issue.
Racer reported that Sainz went further and suggested the FIA’s decisions depend on which drivers are involved. Williams team principal James Vowles was also unhappy, saying both Sainz and Albon had a chance of advancing. Vowles said in a Williams statement that the team is confident the FIA will investigate fully.
What Is Still Unclear
It is not clear which cars had access to Overtake Mode during the 27 seconds, or how much any of them gained. Sainz has put the benefit at around half a second. RacingNews365 reported that he has also claimed he lost around six-tenths of a second himself. These are Sainz’s estimates, not FIA figures.
It is also not clear how much of Sainz’s result came from the Overtake Mode error and how much from the loss of power he described on his own lap.
The grid was not changed. Max Verstappen kept sprint pole ahead of George Russell and Charles Leclerc. Racer understands the delay before SQ2 was mostly about making sure the timing systems worked, and also gave the stewards time to consider whether to intervene.
GUZ Analysis: A Question of Consistency
The reported facts are these. The FIA admitted an error that left some cars with different conditions from others. The result stood. And AP described this as Formula 1’s second technical mishap in less than a week.
Those facts do not show that the FIA treats drivers differently. That is Sainz’s suggestion, and the reports GUZ reviewed do not spell out which other incidents he compared it with. They do explain why drivers are pushing for clarity on how an admitted error in a decisive session should be put right. The FIA has not been quoted responding to Sainz’s wider point.
What’s Next
The sprint starts at 5pm Singapore time on Saturday, which is 10am WAT. Sainz starts from the back on a tight street circuit where overtaking is hard. Qualifying for Sunday’s Grand Prix follows later on Saturday.
GUZ Sport will update this story as the FIA and Williams respond.
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