Austrian Grand Prix – Sainz Abandons Race Before Start
In a shocking turn of events during the formation lap of the Austrian Grand Prix, Carlos Sainz was forced to retire before the race even began. The Williams driver, starting in 19th position, was unable to move due to a mechanical issue.
Sainz alerted his team via radio, saying, “Something is stopping the car from moving forward.” After switching to neutral, he managed to return to the pits but soon experienced a fire from the rear brakes of his FW47. Williams confirmed his race was over as he exited the car, stating, "Car 55 returns to the garage… We’re down to one car."
Sky Sports F1 analyst Karun Chandhok reflected on the moment’s significance, calling it a deflating experience for both the driver and the engineering team.
The start of the race was aborted as polesitter Lando Norris completed his formation lap. Meanwhile, Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso and Mercedes’ George Russell expressed concerns over extreme cockpit temperatures while waiting for the race to restart. Alonso reported that his “seat is 200 degrees,” prompting Russell to request additional hydration for the team.
Sainz’s teammate, Alex Albon, was positioned to start the race from 12th place, leaving Williams with a solo entry in the event.
