Drama brewed under the Singapore night lights as Williams Formula 1 drivers Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz found themselves under scrutiny following qualifying for the 2025 Singapore Grand Prix.
What To Know?
- Albon and Sainz qualified 12th and 13th at Marina Bay.
- FIA found that both Williams cars exceeded the 85 mm DRS gap limit.
- Both drivers would start at the back of the starting grid on race day.
Albon and Sainz posted respectable laps to line up 12th and 13th on the grid at the notoriously unforgiving Marina Bay Street Circuit. But celebrations were short-lived when the FIA flagged a potential technical infringement during post-session scrutineering in parc fermé.
According to the FIA’s technical delegate, Jo Bauer, the issue concerned the adjustable elements of the rear wing. His report stated:
“The uppermost rear wing element adjustable positions were checked on car numbers 23 and 55. Both cars exceeded the maximum limit of 85 mm on both sides of the rear wing outer area. As this is not in compliance with TR Article 3.10.10 g., I am referring this matter to the stewards for their confirmation.”
In plain terms, the DRS openings on both Williams cars appear to have exceeded the allowable gap, potentially providing a performance advantage on Singapore’s short straights.
The team was summoned to explain itself, with Albon, Sainz, and a Williams representative called before the stewards at 11:30 p.m. local time (4:30 p.m. BST).
Once the breach was confirmed, the consequences were severe. A similar issue last year saw both Haas cars disqualified from 2024 Monaco Grand Prix qualifying after a comparable rear wing infringement. On that occasion, the penalty sent both drivers to the back of the grid for Sunday’s race.
Williams faced the same fate. For a team that’s been steadily rebuilding its form, a technical misstep of this magnitude was a major setback. The team’s engineers would no doubt be combing through data late into the night, hoping for a reprieve from the stewards.
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