Formula One: Sainz Defends his Move on Lance Stroll

Toro Rosso Driver Carlos Sainz defends the move he made on Lance Stroll as he exited the pitlane, saying that the blame falls on Stroll.

In what was possibly one of the weirdest collisions of the season, Toro Rosso driver Carlos Sainz nearly T-Boned Williams driver Lance Stroll on Turn 1 at the Bahrain Grand Prix. Sainz barrelled out of the pitlane exit and straight into Stroll, who tightening up his line into Turn 1.

The damage resulted in a destroyed right side pod to Stroll, numerous suspension and tire issues on Sainz, and a “did not finish” on both drivers as they retired from the race.

Now that the Stewards have made their call and awarded a three-grid place penalty to Carlos Sainz, the Toro Rosso driver is speaking up, still adamant that the fault does not rest on his shoulders but rather on Stroll’s:

“I knew it would be very tight at the end of the pits with Lance. I tried to take the corner around the inside. I didn’t lock up the tires and he must have not seen me and turned it straight into me and we crashed.

You are allowed to turn in, but when you have someone inside, you have to leave at least one car’s margin in case there’s someone there. I think he simply didn’t see me, and wasn’t expecting me to be there.

But I didn’t overshoot the corner so I don’t understand how, knowing that you are fighting for position, you don’t leave a gap.

If he had gone around the outside he would have emerged ahead of me after the corner. He chose to take the risk and assume no one was there.” – Carlos Sainz

The Steward’s call might have put an end to the discussion for now, but there is still a possibility that the collision may have stirred up some bad blood between the drivers as both continue to blame one another.