Sainz penalised for second yellow flag breach in one day

Carlos Sainz was hit with a five-place grid penalty for Azerbaijan Grand Prix qualifying after failing to sufficiently slow for a yellow flag in Q3 near Turn 3, despite receiving an advance team warning to lift. The penalty cost Williams what would have been its best grid slot of the season, bettering Alex Albon's 11th at Monaco. Earlier the same day, Sainz had also been investigated for a separate yellow-flag breach in Turn 4 during Friday practice, but stewards gave only a reprimand due to mitigating circumstances involving the short reaction window before the flag appeared.