Carlos Sainz, racing for Williams, is under investigation after a Q1 incident where stewards believe he may have rejoined the track in an unsafe manner during the rain-hit Las Vegas Grand Prix qualifying session.
Sainz spun into the runoff area early in Q1 and, while attempting to rejoin, appeared to impede Lance Stroll, who was approaching the corner at speed on a flying lap. Stroll was forced to check up, visibly losing momentum as he closed in on the Williams recovering from the spin.
Race control immediately confirmed that Sainz is under investigation for the manner in which he re-entered the track, specifically whether he failed to ensure the racing line was clear — something that can lead to a reprimand or even a grid penalty depending on the degree of danger posed.
The incident came during extremely challenging wet conditions, with standing water and limited grip already complicating the session. Drivers had been struggling with visibility and aquaplaning, making safe rejoins even more critical.
A decision is expected before the start of the race.
