Carlos Sainz expressed frustration over Lewis Hamilton’s aggressive defensive move during the final lap of the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix, which resulted in contact between the two drivers. Heading into the closing stages, Hamilton was struggling on his medium tyres and faced intense pressure from Sainz, who attempted a bold overtake in the last braking zone at Turn 17. Hamilton’s sharp defensive turn caused the cars to collide, a moment that drew the attention of race stewards but ultimately resulted in no penalties.
The stewards‘ official statement described the incident, saying,
Car 55 attempted an overtake on the inside of Car 44 into Turn 17 and both cars made contact at the apex.
They acknowledged that both drivers contributed to the collision: Sainz did not firmly establish the right to the racing line, and Hamilton turned earlier than usual, affecting Sainz’s attempt. The stewards concluded that no one was predominantly at fault, so no further action was taken against either driver.
Speaking to the media in Miami paddock after the race, Carlos Sainz voiced his disappointment with Hamilton’s tactics.
No, I just, I think he obviously was doing the best he could to defend,
Sainz said.
I had a go into the last corner. He moved as soon as he saw me dive. And that created contact, which I think is quite typical, honestly. But obviously, if you follow exactly a rule book, he cannot move as much as he did, but on the last lap that’s how it goes.
The tone of his remarks reflected an intense mix of frustration and resignation at the chaotic final moments.
Sainz’s race had started strongly as he climbed to sixth position after overtaking teammate Alex Albon. However, his momentum faded as he struggled to maintain pace and eventually lost ground to both Charles Leclerc and Hamilton following a Virtual Safety Car period. Explaining his difficulties, Sainz revealed that damage sustained early in the race, combined with strategic challenges, compromised his performance.
Well, first of all, due to some operational mistakes during the weekend, we were forced to start on a used tire from qualifying while everyone around me was on a new, so I knew it was already going to put us in the back foot, losing a couple of tenths per lap in the first in new versus used,
Sainz explained.
And from there, obviously, I tried everything to hold on the first stint. I picked up damage at the start with Alex. Then he made a mistake. I managed to pass him, then they told us that we were going freeze positions. Then, I don’t know if he got the message or not, but, basically, he overtook me back. From there onwards, on that first stint, I just tried to do everything to stay in contact with that group, holding on Charles behind with a used tyre and damaged car.
The Virtual Safety Car further complicated matters for Sainz.
I think I was the first one of that pitted, the VSC came out, so it was a free stop for all of them, or kind of a short stop for all of them, versus me, which meant, obviously I got pressure from them after the VSC,
he said. Despite these obstacles, he engaged in several intense battles, particularly with Ferrari drivers, but the damage and worn tyres affected his competitiveness.
Had a few nice battles with the Ferraris. But with damage in the car I couldn’t stay close to Sector One with all the downforce and I couldn’t get the better of them in the battles. But on the hard, the pace was decent, given the damage and how early I pitted. But just too many things going on today.
This confrontation between Carlos Sainz and Lewis Hamilton underscores the fierce, high-stakes nature of Formula 1 racing, where split-second decisions and tire wear can dramatically influence outcomes. Sainz’s critique highlights ongoing debates about defending etiquette and racing conduct, especially in high-pressure scenarios like the final lap of a Grand Prix.
With no penalties handed down, the incident leaves questions about future racing standards and whether more stringent rules will be enforced to avoid collisions during critical moments. For Sainz, the race was a frustrating mix of promise and setbacks, underscoring how quickly fortunes can shift in the fast-paced world of F1.
