Sainz suggests FIA calls depend on the drivers being impacted

Carlos Sainz has suggested the FIA takes a different approach to sporting issues depending on the drivers involved, after an Overtake Mode error impacted runners in SQ1 at the Singapore Grand Prix.

The first part of Sprint qualifying was impacted by a timing issue that meant a number of laps were not registered at the end of SQ1, leading to the incorrect order appearing at the checkered flag. Formula One Management (FOM) is responsible for the official timing system and was able to use a backup to get the correct times, but a further issue had an impact on multiple cars.

After a red flag caused by debris on track following a crash for Sergio Perez, the FIA failed to manually activate Overtake Mode after the interruption, with it then turned on for 27 seconds in the closing stages before it was deactivated again after a discussion.

“Half of the cars did the lap with half-a-second quicker engine than the others,” Sainz said. “There was another software issue with the cars, and this time around we were on the bad end of it. And for whatever reason the FIA, [unlike] in Malaysia, didn’t decide to do sporting equity and were happy to do half of the cars in quali with higher power than the other half of the cars. So I'm a bit confused why the sport keeps doing different things depending on who is out in Q1 and who is out in lap 1.”

Sainz’s comments are in reference to the formation lap software issues in Malaysia that led to multiple cars stopping on track, but on that occasion the FIA suspended the starting procedure and allowing a resumption in the original race order. In that instance, Max Verstappen – who dropped more than 10 car lengths behind the safety car as he lost power – and Lewis Hamilton – who stopped on track – were among those reprieved.

RACER understands the delay to the start of SQ2 was largely focused on ensuring the timing systems would work reliably, but also to allow the stewards to deliberate if they needed to intervene in light of the Overtake Mode error.

With both Williams cars eliminated in SQ1 alongside Arvid Lindblad, Lance Stroll and the Cadillac drivers, team principal James Vowles was unhappy with the situation and says both Sainz and Alex Albon (pictured at right, top, with Sainz) had a chance of advancing.

“A very frustrating evening,” Vowles said. “After the red flag in the first session of Sprint qualifying there was an issue with the way overtake mode was activated which definitely had an impact on our lap times. We are confident this will be fully investigated by the FIA.

“This issue doesn’t change the fact that our car performance isn’t where we want it to be – without the issue we had the potential to get both cars into the second part of Sprint qualifying but we will turn our attention now to getting the most out of tomorrow."