The Hungarian Grand Prix at the Hungaroring proved to be a dramatic affair, not least for the altercation between Carlos Sainz and Pierre Gasly. Untelevised team radio footage has shed light on Sainz’s immediate call for the FIA to penalize Gasly, following a collision that ended the Alpine driver’s recent streak of point finishes.
The incident unfolded during the race’s closing stages when Gasly, battling with Sainz, misjudged his braking at Turn 2. This error led to a tyre-to-tyre contact that forced Sainz’s Williams onto the painted run-off area, ultimately costing him a position to Nico Hulkenberg’s Sauber. While Sainz eventually crossed the line in 14th, his frustration was palpable as he communicated with his team, urging them to report the incident to the stewards.
Gasly, who initially finished 17th before a 10-second penalty dropped him to 19th, was not without issues of his own. The Alpine driver struggled with battery complications throughout the race and reported damage to his A525 following the clash with Sainz, describing the car as “undriveable.”
The stewards, acting on the report, added two penalty points to Gasly’s superlicence, compounding his difficult weekend. This incident is not isolated for Sainz, who has previously been vocal on team radios. Last season, he notably called for penalties against Liam Lawson during the Mexican Grand Prix for ignoring blue flags.
Post-race, Williams team principal James Vowles acknowledged Sainz’s performance, expressing optimism for the team’s future races. As the season progresses, both drivers will be keen to avoid further on-track incidents that could jeopardize their standings in the championship.
