Carlos Sainz crashes in wet Australian GP start, blames "torque surge"
Carlos Sainz had a disappointing start to his first season with Williams.
Carlos Sainz, Williams
Photo by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images
After crashes from rookies Isack Hadjar and Jack Doohan, new Williams driver Carlos Sainz also left the tarmac under the yellow flag, hitting the wall and retiring his car on the first lap of the Australian Grand Prix.
It's wet conditions in Melbourne this Sunday, evident by the fact we've already lost three cars. Ahead of the final turn of the street circuit, Sainz's Grove car spun under power in a very similar fashion to both rookies. The former Ferrari driver complained of a torque surge that spun his car.
The driver was unhurt, but the right side of his car was heavily damaged.
A yellow flag through the pitlane followed the three incidents, a scenario teams utilised to fit new sets of hot intermediate tyres.
This will be a disappointing start for Sainz who is starting his first season with the Grove outfit. Qualifying in tenth on the Saturday, four places behind his team-mate Alex Albon, the team has shown strong performance in Melbourne.
Carlos Sainz, Williams
Photo by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images
Talking with Sky Sports F1 after qualifying, the Spaniard confirmed that his move to the British team was vindicated.
“Yeah, definitely. It might have just [been] how it is meant to be.
“Now it is a matter of working hard because I see a lot of potential in this team, a lot of potential to unleash from myself, with a team [like Williams], with the full support, with the full machinery working in the right places.
“I feel like we are on the right path.”
Photos from Australian GP - Race
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Sunday
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