Williams Formula 1 drivers Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon were disqualified from the Singapore Grand Prix qualifying session after their cars failed post-qualifying FIA scrutineering due to a technical violation. The issue was discovered at the Marina Bay Street Circuit shortly after the qualifying rounds concluded.
During inspections, officials determined that the Drag Reduction System (DRS) flaps on both Williams cars exceeded the regulatory limits, with the gap on both sides of the rear wing surpassing the maximum permitted 85 millimeters.
Details of the Technical Regulation Violation
The FIA technical regulation specifies that when the DRS is deployed, the two sections of the rear wing must maintain a gap between 9.4mm and 85mm along the entire wing span. The measurement is verified using a spherical gauge to ensure precision.
A detailed ruling explained that the uppermost rear wing elements were inspected, and the DRS flaps on both cars exceeded the 85mm maximum limit allowed. The competitor admitted that their pre-qualifying measurements showed the component within tolerance, but the FIA’s official measurement revealed the wing did not conform to the required dimension.
At the hearing, officials stated:
“Accordingly, the standard penalty applicable to technical infringements is imposed.”
The competitor accepted the FIA’s measuring process and findings without dispute, acknowledging the rear wings on their cars did not meet technical standards.
Impact on Race Starting Positions and Team Reaction
As a consequence of the disqualification, both Williams drivers will begin the Singapore Grand Prix from the back of the grid, nullifying their original qualifying positions of 12th for Albon and 13th for Sainz. These results were already below expectations considering their strong pace during practice sessions.
Williams expressed deep disappointment following the stewards’ decision, releasing a statement:
“During FIA scrutineering after Qualifying, the rear wings on both our cars failed DRS slot gap checks. As a result, Alex and Carlos have been disqualified from Qualifying for tomorrow’s Singapore Grand Prix.”
They added:
“This is bitterly disappointing for the team and we are urgently investigating how this happened. At no point were we seeking a performance advantage and the rear wings had passed our own checks earlier in the day, but there is only one measurement that matters and we fully accept the FIA ruling.”
Williams remains determined to compete strongly despite the setback. The team pledged:
“We have a car capable of scoring points here this weekend and will do everything we can to fight from the back of the grid tomorrow, and will immediately review our processes to make sure this doesn’t happen again.”
Williams’ Recent Performance and Future Outlook
This weekend follows Williams’ recent success after securing their first podium since the 2021 Belgian Grand Prix, where Carlos Sainz finished a remarkable third place in Azerbaijan. This achievement helped Williams secure fifth place in the constructors’ championship — their highest ranking in several years.
In 2025, Williams has already accumulated more points than they did in the entire period from 2018 to 2024 combined. Despite focusing on the major technical regulation changes slated for 2026, the team’s performance this season has shown clear progress, highlighting their resilience even amidst current challenges.
