Carlos Sainz and Sergio Perez have both been hit with grid penalties following Friday’s qualifying session at the 2026 F1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
This adds another layer of drama to an already chaotic session in Baku.
Carlos Sainz Gets a 5-Place Grid Penalty at Baku
Carlos Sainz received a five-place drop and two penalty points on his FIA super license after failing to slow sufficiently under yellow flags during Q3. The Williams driver had produced a major result for his team, reaching Q3 for the first time this season and qualifying ninth. He will now, however, start 14th instead.
Photo by Alastair Staley/LAT Images via Getty Images
The incident came after Alpine’s Franco Colapinto went deep at Turn 15, bringing out the yellow flags late in Q3. Sainz argued that he intended to make a broader reduction in speed through the affected section. The stewards, however, determined that he did not slow enough at the required point.
Sergio Perez Penalized After Oscar Piastri Incident
Perez was handed a 3-place grid penalty for impeding McLaren’s Oscar Piastri during qualifying. The Cadillac driver was on a preparation lap, and Piastri approached on a faster flying lap, forcing the Australian to react. The stewards found Perez responsible for obstruction.
The latest provisional grid lists him 20th after the penalty, while separate power penalties have sent Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll to the back.
At the front, George Russell claims pole position with a 1:42.526, finishing 0.837 seconds ahead of Charles Leclerc. Oscar Piastri qualified 3rd while Isack Hadjar was 4th on his Red Bull return.
Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli, the championship leader, faces a major recovery battle from 16th after crashing in Q1. The Azerbaijan Grand Prix takes place Saturday, September 26, with a race scheduled for 3 p.m. local time in Baku.
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