The FIA stewards have decided not to take further action against Carlos Sainz regarding a suspected red flag violation during the Monaco Grand Prix weekend. This ruling came late, ahead of the crucial qualifying session, following a reported incident from Friday’s second practice session. The focus keyword, Carlos Sainz cleared in Monaco GP red flag investigation, reflects the stewards’ final decision that Sainz committed no infraction.
Details Behind the Delay and Investigation Process
The second practice session on Friday afternoon at Monaco was interrupted twice by red flags after crashes involving Isack Hadjar and Oscar Piastri. The stewards later looked into an allegation that Sainz had overtaken Alpine driver Franco Colapinto during a red flag period. However, Sainz avoided any penalties or setbacks before qualifying began.
The FIA explained the delay by noting the complaint about the possible infringement was only brought to the stewards’ attention the next day, after the third practice session had finished. Following this, the officials reviewed multiple sources including telemetry data, video footage, timing information, team communications, and the testimony of Sainz and a team representative.
The findings confirmed that while Sainz’s car (Car 55) did pass Colapinto’s car (Car 43) approaching Turn 2, the red flag was already displayed at that moment. At the time, Sainz was traveling at over 250 kilometers per hour, whereas Colapinto was moving slowly on the left side of the track, performing a slow lap.
Considering the significant speed difference and the 42-meter gap between the two cars, the stewards concluded the pass was an unavoidable result of the speed delta. Importantly, Sainz slowed down appropriately and safely as soon as the red flag was shown, in compliance with the International Sporting Code.
“In the circumstances, we took no further action.”
—FIA Stewards
Implications and What to Expect Moving Forward at Monaco
The FIA’s ruling allowed Sainz to proceed without any disciplinary consequences, preserving his chances in the highly competitive Monaco GP qualifying session. This decision avoided disruption or disadvantage to his team and may influence how drivers react to future red flag periods, especially in the demanding street circuit environment.
The incident highlights the complexities race officials face when reviewing split-second events under evolving regulations, while also underscoring the importance of thorough data analysis. Attention now shifts to the race weekend itself, where strategies will unfold amid strict monitoring, as teams adapt to FIA’s evolving enforcement of race procedures and track limits.
