Carlos Sainz dry on incident with Sergio Perez: FIA verdict

The incident finds the judgment of the commissioners and the person concerned.

Carlos Sainz and Sergio Perez ended the Azerbaijan Grand Prix against the barriers at the Baku circuit after a collision that è cost them both the race and the last step of the podium. An incident on which è came the outcome of the FIA investigation, but also the disenchanted end-of-day judgment from the Ferrari driver.

The verdict of the commissioners chosen by the federation è clear: no responsibility, and therefore no sanctions against the two directly involved. "Sainz and Perez collided shortly after Turn 2 on Lap 50. A small contact had huge consequences, but the commissioners focused on the'incident and not the consequences", reads the FIA ruling.

So the reconstruction: "Sainz overtook Perez after Turn 1 and was fully ahead of the apex of Turn 2. Due to inferior traction, Perez took the inside and Sainz reports that he noticed his rival was in that position. Perez, who was slightly behind, was in a better position for a proper assessment of the dynamics. But neither steered erratically, instead keeping the steering wheel in a neutral position. It is therefore a racing accident, with no preponderant fault".

Sainz himself had been lapidary in his assessment of the collision with Perez. "I am not used to placing blame or making analysis on a race episode before I have spoken with the stewards. In this case forò I know I did nothing wrong, bad or dangerous", the Ferrari Spaniard had told 'Sky Sport' at the end of the day.