Penalty, poor performance, fine… Sainz had a dark weekend in Japan

On the track, Sainz had yet another weekend to forget. The third in three races. Outrageously dominated in pure performance by his teammate Alexander albon, the ex-pilot Ferrari never seemed to be on the pace on the Suzuka circuit. In qualifying, the Madrilenian saw his situation worsen with a three-place grid penalty for obstructing Lewis Hamilton during his fast lap in Q2. A communication or concentration error that cost dearly, while every position counts in the highly competitive field of this 2025 season.

As if that weren't enough, Carlos Sainz also found himself penalized at the start of the race. The Spanish driver arrived late for the Japanese national anthem ceremony, a solemn moment now codified by the FIA ​​in the pre-race protocol. The International Federation didn't let this infraction go unchallenged: he was fined 20 euros, 000 of which is suspended for the next twelve months.

The fine could have been even higher: the current scale initially provided for 60 euros for this type of infraction, but the stewards took into account the mitigating circumstances. In its report, the FIA ​​states that Sainz suffered a stomach upset before the anthem, which delayed his arrival on the grid. This version was confirmed by Dr. Messina of Med-Ex, the official medical supplier of the F1, who administered the necessary care.

A strict regulation

The FIA, however, reiterated that, despite the medical justification, punctuality during the national anthem remains an absolute priority. All parties must consider all eventualities in order to be in place at the required time ", notes the report. The penalty imposed on Sainz also echoes that received by Yuki tsunoda at the 2024 Canadian Grand Prix, which was then punished with a fine of €10. The fine scale has since been revised upwards.

Between disappointing performances, sporting penalties and disciplinary sanctions, Carlos Sainz had one of his worst weekends since his arrival at Williams. As he plays a crucial season in his career, these errors – on and off the track – could weigh heavily on his stock in the paddock for 2026, his contract with the English team being for only one season...