Sainz set for Singapore Sprint pit-lane start after Williams change

Carlos Sainz will start the Singapore Grand Prix Sprint from the pit lane after Williams altered his suspension set-up while the car was under parc fermé conditions.

Suspension change follows a troubled qualifying session

Sainz’s session was difficult from the outset. He had encountered brake trouble during Friday’s only practice session, and said Williams had made adjustments in response. He acknowledged that the changes were not ideal.

The suspension adjustment means Sainz will begin from the pit lane rather than the grid. It is another setback in a session in which a separate Overtake Mode problem also affected his run. Sainz has faced other qualifying-related scrutiny this season, including a Dutch Grand Prix Sprint Qualifying investigation.

FIA says race-control error disrupted Overtake Mode

The issue arose after a red flag in SQ1. Sergio Perez crashed his Cadillac at Turn 5, then continued towards the pits, leaving debris on the circuit and prompting the interruption.

The FIA later said human error in race control meant Overtake Mode was not available immediately after the restart. It was then enabled for only 27 seconds before being switched off again. The impact varied according to where each car was on track at the time.

Sainz estimated that the difference in power cost him around half a second. Other drivers may also have been affected. The FIA said the Overtake Mode incident was separate from a timing-system problem that had also disrupted the session.

Williams now has the Sprint to gather running and assess its position before qualifying for the Grand Prix. Sainz’s difficult 2026 campaign with the team has also prompted discussion of his future with Williams, but in Singapore the immediate challenge is making progress from the pit lane.