Checo incident hurts Sainz and complicates Verstappen’s position

A blow from Checo affected Carlos Sainz and left Max Verstappen in difficulty at the Singapore Grand Prix. Sainz, who has previously won in Singapore, will start last, in 22nd, in the sprint after a Friday that went wrong at a crucial moment. The short race is scheduled for Saturday at 11:00 on DAZN.

There was only one free-practice session before the rest of the weekend turned into a real battle. The format, described as different and difficult, had an impact from the start of sprint qualifying at Marina Bay. The incident left drivers with less time and sparked a tense exchange between Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton.

“He overtook me under yellow flags,” the Ferrari driver complained. Verstappen replied: “I let him through because the situation was complicated; I think I overtook him before the yellow flag. But I want to check.”

Sainz also reported over the team radio that he was struggling with the car’s handling: “I have a lot of front locking and I can’t feel the rear. It all combines.” Starting the sprint from the back gives the incident a tangible consequence, while Verstappen’s chances could also be affected, with the Dutchman described as one of the leading favourites.