For 49 of its 51 laps, the Azerbaijan Grand Prix was a tense, enthralling affair that slowly built up to a boil as the race went on.
The two-way battle for the lead between Oscar Piastri and Charles Leclerc became a three-way fight with Sergio Perez putting the Ferrari driver under pressure.Then, Carlos Sainz Jnr began to reel in the leading trio and eventually got within DRS range of Perez in third to add an extra dimension to the late battle.
Unfortunately, however, the race would end in tears for both Perez and Sainz as they clashed at the start of the penultimate lap, taking both drivers out of the race. The stewards investigated the incident but decided not to take any action. But were they right to, or should either driver have taken the blame?
How it happened
Entering the penultimate lap of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, lap 50, Perez attempted to pass Charles Leclerc into turn one for second place. Perez took the outside line as Leclerc defended, allowing Sainz to take a tighter line on the exit and pass the Red Bull.
Sainz then had a look to the outside of Leclerc at turn two, which compromised his exit onto the straight leading to turn three and allowed Perez to pull alongside him at the exit. As the two ran side-by-side together, with Perez’s front wing half way alongside the Ferrari when the two touched wheels, sending both Perez and Sainz into the wall on the left-hand side of the circuit.
The crash immediately put both cars out of the race and scattered debris across the straight, with Valtteri Bottas having to slow down and in avoidance and running over debris as a result. The Virtual Safety Car was eventually deployed and the race finished under VSC conditions at the end of the next lap.
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What they said
In the cars
FOM played clips of both drivers’ team radios on the world feed after the accident. Perez told race engineer Hugh Bird: “What the [censored by FOM]? Did you see what he did, man? What the [censored by FOM]? Does he crash or what? [Censored by FOM] idiot.”
Sainz was baffled by how he had ended up being out of the race. “What happened there?,” he asked. “What happened? I don’t get it.”
After the crash
Speaking after the race, Perez wondered if Sainz had drifted into him while trying to get a benefit from his team mate’s slipstream ahead.
“It’s very unfortunate. It all happened too quickly. I think Carlos was trying to follow the tow from Charles as he went to the inside and that made things really hard.”
Sainz remained at a loss for how the two had ended up colliding.
“When I exited turn two, Checo was on my left,” he explained. “We normally do a slight drift towards the left into that long straight, which I did like every other lap. For some reason, that I don’t understand, Checo and I collided. Which is unfortunate and obviously very disappointing.”
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The official verdict
Post-race, the stewards investigated both drivers and after speaking to the pair, decided no further action should be taken against either Perez or Sainz.
“From this point and throughout the incident, neither driver steered erratically, and indeed both kept their steering very neutral.
“The stewards checked the driving line of the drivers on pervious laps. Sainz was on or close to his normal racing line, which forms a slight angle away from the right hand wall. From the exit to the point of contact he move approximately one car width further away from the wall. Perez moved approximately half a car width further away from the same wall, being more parallel to the right hand wall.
“It was thus apparent that while ahead, and having the right to drive his line, Sainz did move slightly towards a car that he had limited vision of. At the same time, there was nothing unusual about Perez’s line, but he could have done more to avoid the car that he had better view of.
“In conclusion, the stewards deem this to be a racing incident with neither driver being predominantly at fault, and take no further action.”
Your verdict
Who do you think was responsible for the collision? Should the stewards have issued a penalty? Cast your vote below and have your say in the comments.
Who do you think was to blame for the collision between Perez and Sainz?
- No opinion (2%)
- Sainz entirely to blame (2%)
- Sainz mostly to blame (9%)
- Both equally to blame (36%)
- Perez mostly to blame (41%)
- Perez entirely to blame (11%)
Total Voters: 152
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IAN MURTAGH
15th September 2024, 20:57
I think it’s up to Perez to avoid the contact. He has a better view and there is still a lot more than a cars width to his left. Something that nobody has mentioned is the sun. The sun was low and could have been a factor is Perez not clearly seeing Sainz slowly drifting to the left.
Maisch (@maisch)
16th September 2024, 8:20
In my world where i race single seaters its not super easy to judge exactly where the car behind actually is with the small shaky mirrors, its a bit up to the guy behind with the better view to be a bit aware of that fact and behave accordingly (especially when its 1 lap left and you are in a good position :) ). I think Perez could have avoided that shunt fairly easily, carlos wasnt doing anything erratic.
Asd
15th September 2024, 21:11
100% Perez guilty. You cannot sit on somebody’s rear wheel like that. It’s absurd to fault Sainz for what Perez did.
Leo B
17th September 2024, 18:05
yes, it looked like Perez’s front right caught Sainz’s rear left and forced him to rotate leftward. Rather like, though not as severe as when Max caught Raikkonen’s rear left at the start of Singapore 2017 and caused him to crash into Vettel.
AdrianMorse (@adrianmorse)
15th September 2024, 21:19
Although not exactly the same, the incident reminded of Webber and Vettel in Turkey, 2010. Vettel was slightly ahead, and wanted to move more towards the racing line, but Webber kept his steering straight. You can say Webber and Perez should have reacted to the movement of the car ahead, but at those speeds an incident happens very quickly. Also, for that reason, you could argue that the leading car should not try to dictate the line when racing so closely together. Very unfortunate for all involved, then and now.
Scalextric (@scalextric)
15th September 2024, 23:10
Vettel Button Spa 2010 came to mind. There was some unexpected aero effect when Vettel pulled out from behind Butto, but it was much more noticeable on that occasion.
Nevertheless, I wonder if today’s two cars were sucked together for the last couple of inches or if it was just converging racing lines.
Scalextric (@scalextric)
16th September 2024, 12:12
No, me, you’re wrong, the overhead view shows tire contact that caused Sainz’s snap to the left. Probably.
SteveP
17th September 2024, 20:23
Apply a sudden deceleration to the left rear of a vehicle and the whole car rotates left…
More than probably. :)
frood19 (@frood19)
16th September 2024, 21:02
It’s different to Turkey 2010 – on that occasion Vettel just veered into Webber who was holding his line to ensure Vettel had a tight turn in to the chicane – Vettel just assumed he’d fallen further behind, which was his error. Yesterday, Perez was more clearly behind and kept his foot in while Sainz was taking the normal line.
However, I think it was a racing incident with Perez slightly more to blame for it. He was probably unsighted, the track is quite narrow and they were following Leclerc’s slipstream, which adds an extra element of complexity to it. Big shame for both drivers really.
BLS (@brightlampshade)
15th September 2024, 21:21
I don’t really blame either of them, if they’d banged wheels nothing would have happened but because they overlapped wheels it sucked the two cars together.
Neither crowded the other, both had a right to be in that spot. The initial contact was minimal but it being two oppositely rotating pieces of rubber means it ended badly.
Fletch (@fletchuk)
15th September 2024, 21:36
Its the sort of contact that 1 out of 10 times could be really, really bad. It could have launched one of the cars.
Neil (@neilosjames)
15th September 2024, 21:41
I think it’s more or less equal. Sainz could have stayed closer up against the wall, but Perez had a better view and there was no need for him to be that close. For me, there are little arguments to push more blame onto one or the other, but overall I couldn’t say either is mostly at fault.
SuperIU
15th September 2024, 21:50
Why does Perez has to blame. He left enough room to Sainz and he did not need to give more than the necesary to left him go thorugh. I insist in the Bottas vs Russell in Imola. Russell was on all the balme because Bottas give him enough space (a car width between him and the grass); Russell lost it and ended crashing on Bottas… why this has to be different with the slipstream and racing line argument as if Sainz was alone?
Otherwise the FIA needs to add the option of using the same race line as usual and wanting to have a tow from other pilots as defensive move that the other driver need to be in account of… ridiculous.
Perez usually give enough room to other drivers when he was overtaking or when he was overtaking others. He gave it here as well and Sainz was the one that try to use a line that was not availiable because there was another car racing him.
Peter707
15th September 2024, 22:14
Because he was behind. Sainz was ahead and had the right to drive his line and did it in an absolutely predictable manner. I don’t understand why Perez did not get penalty.
SuperIu
15th September 2024, 22:40
Behind? Oh, I think I saw another race where Perez was at the right of Sainz fighting for position…
Steve (@scbriml)
15th September 2024, 23:36
Was Perez ahead of Sainz? No. Was Perez level with Sainz? No.
The fact that Perez front tyre made contact with Sainz rear tells you that Perez was, indeed, behind.
David BR (@david-br)
15th September 2024, 22:08
So Sainz stuck to his same line through the section, Pérez was trying to overtake and (therefore) had the better view. It’s a racing incident but it was unsmart racing from Pérez who should have allowed more space (as the stewards concluded). So it’s kind of Pérez’s own fault he threw away his best performance of the year on the penultimate lap. When racing for position he does tend to keep (too) close to the other driver. On a high speed section, it’s asking for trouble.
Applebook
15th September 2024, 23:58
50% racing incident, 50% Perez’s fault. I don’t blame Carlos at all. Perez was too close to Carlos for no reason. Sure, Sainz drifted towards the left, but he was ahead and did it in a predictable and obvious manner. Had he suddenly jerked in that direction, then yes, it would have been completely his fault.
BasCB (@bascb)
15th September 2024, 22:23
I really think it was just a racing incident. Perez could have left more room to be safe, and was a tad behind so maybe the onus is on him. Sainz was ahead, but since he did confirm he knew Perez was there right next to him, he should have been more carefull when he drove more to the left of the track.
A racing incident is a fair judgement. They both could have done more to avoid it and both suffered from not having done so because it ended their race.
Bernie1 (@bernie1)
15th September 2024, 23:16
Perez fault entirely. He is the following car, the leader can dictate what line he takes (as long as he leaves him a cars width) and it’s down to the following car to not drive into him. Perez had plenty of space to drive into and not doing so only had one outcome. This. He is a poor driver to still be at this level. This is beligerent child stuff.
Michael
15th September 2024, 23:48
If both drivers are in the wrong penalise both drivers.
Jere (@jerejj)
16th September 2024, 6:08
Both equally to blame, but I still view that Perez could’ve done more to avoid the collision.
natarin
16th September 2024, 7:39
I watched this incident like 20 times and still cannot understand how Sainz can be the one “more at fault” as many people claim. He is basically near a wall to the right while Perez has half of the track to his left, and the last one being fully aware of how exactly the cars are located and how much space he has continues to drive so close to the other car, its almost impossible to avoid contact. What everyone expected Sainz to do while he is clearly ahead, drive himself into the wall? I don’t understand this take at all.
az
16th September 2024, 10:12
Same thoughts here. It was like Perez got distracted for a second and did not see how close he was to Carlos’ left rear tyre. I don’t get this from Checo: “he went to the inside and that made things really hard”. That is basic driving skills.
SteveP
17th September 2024, 20:36
I believe the rationale is that Perez was driving a Red Bull.
The CH phrase about “having no business keeping his nose in there” only applies if it’s someone in a different team on the inside of the corner.
Christopher Rehn (@chrischrill)
16th September 2024, 9:39
Sainz followed the racing line, he was ahead, but the racing line does drift leftward. Perez was aiming for the racing line, and he was behind Sainz, but he never turned his car.
Essentially, both drivers set off toward the same point down the straight and neither were willing to give way. If that happens, the driver behind is guilty. I’d pin this on Perez, but weakly so. He is mostly to blame, but not entirely.
baasbas
16th September 2024, 11:03
No! Because I wanted the race to have ended on green and we could have a very interesting battle for P2 – 4 for another 1.5 laps…. But sadly you can’t punish someone for ruining the fun, there have to be actual offenses and stuff.. boring
Phil Norman (@phil-f1-21)
16th September 2024, 12:02
I watched it on TV both from overhead and behind. It’s a 50/50 racing incident in my view. I think Sergio drifted to the right a touch and Carlos drifted to the left. You could argue Sergio had the better view being a little behind but he would not have been expecting it.
I do think that for some on here though, Perez can do nothing right. Let’s acknowledge that he had a pretty good race up until the crash. They are hyper-critical of him.
Michael (@freelittlebirds)
16th September 2024, 13:27
@phil-f1-21 that’s what I couldn’t see – if Checo drifted to the right, it’s definitely not 50-50 because it’s his trademark ram maneuver which doesn’t work especially at Baku (well, it does work in the sense that it ends up in disaster) and it caught Sainz completely unaware.
SteveP
17th September 2024, 20:41
Whilst no fan of RBR, I have to say it wasn’t a “trademark ram manoeuvre”.
I think it was what is known in common parlance as a cock-up, no more, no less. Foolish positioning of his car, that ended in a predictable fashion.
Bullfrog (@bullfrog)
16th September 2024, 12:17
I think the stewards are possibly better at their job than me, and it’s pleasing to see no interference in the results of this race or the next one (i.e. grid penalties)
PeteB (@peteb)
16th September 2024, 12:18
Perez drives a Red Bull so he’ll be at fault for many. Swap the positions around and there would be outrage that be drifted across the track.
It’s a racing incident. Both drivers drifted into each other. Sainz even said:
He knew Checo was to his left and he drifted left anyway like he did every other lap when there wasn’t a car to his left. Checo could have avoided it by moving but he wasn’t obliged to. Sainz could have avoided it by not drifting across the track. Racing incident – both at fault and both punished already by getting a DNF.
Michael (@freelittlebirds)
16th September 2024, 13:24
@peterb there is the context of Sainz making an unexpected move to overtake Perez before the incident when he expected to overtake Leclerc that must have left Perez fuming along with previous incidents in Baku. We’ve all seen Perez make slight moves into drivers that are in the opposite direction of the track and are just ramming maneuvers. On the other hand, we also know Sainz is one of the most collected and cool-headed drivers in the history of the sport and his radio shows that he had no clue what happened there while Perez was blaming the other driver which he always does even when he’s at fault.
So even if it were 50-50, Perez was many more times more inclined to collide there than Sainz who would have prevented a collision if he could have.
David BR (@david-br)
16th September 2024, 15:22
@freelittlebirds +1. That’s how I see it. It was a racing incident, but also entirely predictable that after he lost position to Sainz, Pérez would race close to his rival. Like you say, it’s what he does in close racing – he’s even done it to Verstappen, pushing his team mate onto grass in a high speed section. If certain drivers go near him, it’s like a magnetic sucks him closer to them. Most of other drivers attempting to draw level with Sainz would have left just that little more room, an error margin. The only thing about Sainz’s driving, I felt, was that he was trying his luck a bit too much going after Leclerc too. It failed (never really looked on) and compromised his exit, allowing Pérez a chance to retake.
Michael (@freelittlebirds)
16th September 2024, 22:16
@david-br yeah, it did look like Sainz tried to bite more than he could chew going after Leclerc and Perez must have thought he would get the position back which didn’t seem to be the case.
Plus a podium was on the line and Checo had not been on the podium for 11 races and he had the rare chance to stand on one while outperforming Verstappen which was akin to winning a championship for Checo :-)
Sainz had also not stood on the podium in 5 races while Leclerc had podiumed in the past 3 consecutively winning Monza so there was a ton of pressure for both to get on the podium but ultimately Checo was the more desperate of the two there and he had lost the podium to Sainz in the previous corner.
I think a collision was almost guaranteed to happen there.
Jojo
16th September 2024, 14:26
I’d say it was a racing incident, with neither entirely to blame.
I think Sainz misjudged how close Perez was and Perez didn’t react quickly enough to Sainz moving in his direction. It all happened so quickly.
Disappointing way to end the race for both of them. Glad there were no penalties.
j sc
17th September 2024, 7:04
+1
Tommy C (@tommy-c)
17th September 2024, 3:37
I think ultimately it was a racing incident but Perez was the one in the position to avoid it. An unfortunate end to the race for both of them.
Mayrton
17th September 2024, 7:32
A penalty doesn’t make sense nor help as this is a typical Sainz/Perez thing. This is why they fail as WDC candidates. Exactly this. They both ran out of talent.
Captain_Slow
17th September 2024, 12:25
I don’t like all the penalties and ridiculous points being handed out to drivers.
But looking at Stroll attempted pass early in the race and the Perez/Sainz clash late in the race, it is hard to believe that certain other drivers had not received penalty points in the exact same circumstances.
That is the real problem with this system.