Sainz questions fairness after Singapore Overtake Mode human error
Carlos Sainz has questioned how consistently Formula 1 protects sporting fairness after a software error affected the restart of SQ1 at the Singapore Grand Prix.
The Williams driver finished 22nd on the grid after the session was disrupted by an error involving Overtake Mode. The system was not available when the field returned to the track following a red flag. It was subsequently switched on, then disabled again 27 seconds later in an effort to preserve fairness.
That brief period created an uneven opportunity: some drivers were able to use the extra power, while others were not. Sainz said the difference amounted to around half a second for those who had access.
Sainz says the system left part of the field with an advantage
Sainz acknowledged that his own qualifying run was far from clean. He managed only one lap and was still dealing with brake trouble after changes made following practice. Lock-ups and tyre difficulties also hurt his effort.
But he argued that those problems did not explain the entire outcome. In his view, the software issue meant that some cars had a performance advantage over others during the session. As a director of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association, he also challenged the decision to let the qualifying order stand after the error.
His frustration was heightened by an earlier case in Sepang, where he had objected to the decision to restore the original order rather than apply the regulations. Sainz suggested that the sport’s response appeared to vary according to which drivers were affected, whether the incident came in the opening lap or during Q1.
Singapore incident renews questions about consistent decisions
The interruption was described as an unfortunate human error. The attempt to correct it, however, left a portion of the grid able to benefit from Overtake Mode while the rest could not, before the system was switched off again.
Sainz’s criticism focused on the unequal conditions, not only the setback to his own Williams. He said the Singapore incident put his car on the wrong side of another software problem and questioned why sporting equity had not been prioritised.
The episode adds to the scrutiny around decisions made when technical errors affect a session. For more on the event, see the full Singapore Grand Prix weekend schedule. Sainz has also faced an FIA inquiry during a sprint session, as covered in our report on his Dutch Grand Prix Sprint Qualifying investigation.
Simone Scanu
He’s a software engineer with a deep passion for Formula 1 and motorsport. He co-founded Formula Live Pulse to make live telemetry and race insights accessible, visual, and easy to follow.