Sainz On Perez Collision: '100% Convinced I Didn't Do Anything Wrong'

Sunday, 15 September 2024 at 19:00

Ferrari F1 driver Carlos Sainz addressed the collision with Sergio Perez that put him out of the 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

Carlos Saiz started the 17th round of the season at Baku City Circuit from P3. Although he lost a position on the opening lap, he managed to stay close enough to the top three drivers to catch them two laps before the end of the race.

However, this was a moment in the Grand Prix where everything went wrong for the Spaniard. He initially gained a position on Sergio Perez, who lost too much speed in battle with Charles Leclerc in the turn number 1.

However, Sainz didn't get the best run through the second corner, and as he came out side by side with Perez (the Ferrari a bit further ahead).

As they both tried to get slipstream from Leclerc in front, Sainz's and Checo's cars collided, and both smashed against the wall. The 30-year-old described how he saw the incident as he talked to Sky Sports:

“"First of all, I'm glad Checo and I are okay. I drove a very solid race. I was very quick out there."”

“"I was catching up with the top 3. Fastest man on the track for the last 20 laps, but Unfortunately, after passing Checo at Turn 1 and after fighting Charles in Turn 2, there was very unexpected contact."”

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“"Honestly I still don't understand how it happened, I wasn't doing any erratic manoeuvre or risky move onto Checo and we, for some reason that I still don't understand, collided and that was the end."”

This collision, of course, put both drivers out of the race, which Red Bull's team principal Christian Horner felt was a shame as he suggested Sainz was the one who moved in Perez's way, and the Mexican driver deserved at least a podium.

Both drivers involved in the incident were summoned to the stewards after the race. When Sky Sports asked Sainz what outcome he expected from the meeting, he said:

“"I'm not sure [on the outcome of the investigation], but this time I'm 100% convinced I didn't do anything wrong or anything aggressive, we'll see."”

Stewards' decision on the collision between Perez and Sainz in Baku:

After the race, the stewards talked to Perez and Sainz and their representatives. After careful consideration, they decided to take no further action regarding the incident on lap 50.

The stewards noted in the official document that neither of the two drivers "steered erratically," and both kept their steering very neutral.

While Sainz moved closer to Perez, the Mexican could have done more to avoid the incident. Ultimately, "neither driver was predominantly at fault" as it was a "racing incident."