Aston Martin protest qualifying results over Sainz’s crash

Aston Martin have lodged a protest against the results of today’s qualifying session over the handling of Carlos Sainz Jnr’s crash.

The FIA confirmed the protest concerns article 39.6 of the sporting regulations which states: “Any driver whose car stops on the track during the qualifying session or the sprint qualifying will not be permitted to take any further part in that session.”

Sainz crashed during Q2, causing a red flag. A message from race control noted his car had ‘stopped on start/finish straight’ following his crash.

While the session was suspended he was able to rejoin the track and drive back to the pits. He continued in qualifying, reached Q3 and eventually took seventh on the grid.

Aston Martin would have benefited had Sainz not been allowed to continue in the session. Their driver Lance Stroll finished Q2 in 11th place and would have reached Q3 had Sainz gone no further after his crash.

An FIA spokesperson told RaceFans article 39.6 is intended to forbid drivers from rejoining sessions after they come to a stop and are assisted by marshals or a recovery vehicle. Sainz appeared to rejoin the session without any outside assistance.

Sainz said he altered the angle of his car as he approached the barrier to minimise the damage to it. “I managed to crash just in the right angle,” he told the official F1 channel.

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“In the last moment I turned the wheel a bit to make sure that the crash was in the best possible angle and managed to hit the right angle there to don’t damage the rear suspension and the rear wing.”

Representative of Aston Martin and Ferrari have been called to the hearing, which will take place at 6pm local time at Shanghai International Circuit.