Carlos Sainz investigated after Belgian GP FP1 pit-entry incident

Sainz faces stewards’ scrutiny at Spa

Carlos Sainz is under investigation by the stewards after an unusual incident during first practice for the Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps.

The Williams driver crossed the pit-entry line and passed the bollard before making a sudden turn across the run-off area to rejoin the circuit before the start of the pit wall. The manoeuvre followed an in-and-out run at the pit entry, rather than a conventional commitment to the pit lane.

Sainz quickly explained over team radio that the decision was caused by an issue with his FW48’s gearbox. The stewards, however, are expected to assess whether he should have completed the full pit-entry procedure despite the problem.

A difficult session for Williams

The investigation came at the end of an otherwise anonymous FP1 for Sainz. He completed more laps than any other driver but finished 20th, recording a best time of 1:50.862. That left him 1.4 seconds behind Williams team-mate Alex Albon.

The performance gap ensured that the pit-entry incident was not Sainz’s only frustration from the opening session. Williams has yet to reach the level of performance the team had hoped for in 2026, leaving the Spaniard facing another difficult weekend after a recent run of disappointing races.

The wider pressure on the team has already been highlighted in James Vowles’ comments on Williams’ troubled winter, with Sainz and Albon still seeking clear evidence of progress.

Penalty threat remains unclear

Sainz arrives at Spa with the memory of the British Grand Prix stewards’ decision still fresh. At Silverstone, he became the first driver to receive a penalty lap at the end of a race, an unusual sanction that added to his recent run of setbacks.

Previous precedent does not suggest that the Belgian investigation is likely to produce a penalty affecting Sainz’s position for the rest of the weekend. Nevertheless, any sporting consequence would further complicate a season in which both driver and team have struggled to convert their expectations into results.

The stewards’ decision will determine whether the gearbox-related explanation is sufficient to close the matter or whether the pit-entry manoeuvre is deemed to have breached the requirements.