During the 2025 United States Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas, Carlos Sainz attempted an inside overtake on Kimi Antonelli at Turn 15 when the two came together on lap 7. The stewards later found that Sainz’s Williams had not been sufficiently alongside Antonelli’s Mercedes to merit the inside line, which led to contact. As a result, Sainz was forced to retire from the race, while Antonelli, though damaged, continued. The collision significantly impacted both drivers’ weekends and became a talking point in the paddock.
1. Sainz’s Comments on the Incident
Speaking after the race, Sainz acknowledged the move and provided his version of events. He said:
“I had just done a very similar move on Bearman some laps before, so I tried that inside line with Antonelli. He opened the line and then closed the door more abruptly than I was expecting. I tried to react by slamming on the brakes… it was too late and we touched. I was behind so I accept my part of fault and ultimately it’s a shame as it cost the race for both of us.”
Sainz also noted that the weekend had shown promise:
“It’s a shame to end the race that way as the car had great pace today.”
While he accepted his responsibility, his comments also emphasized his expectation that Antonelli should have left space: “He opened the line and then closed the door more abruptly than I was expecting.” This suggests Sainz felt Antonelli’s defence was sharper than anticipated, contributing to the crash.
2. Who Was to Blame?
The stewards clearly placed the majority of fault on Sainz. Their official reasoning stated:
“At no point prior to the apex was the front axle of Car 55 (Sainz) alongside or ahead of the mirror of Car 12 (Antonelli). Therefore… Car 55 had not earned a right to be left space at the apex.” — Stewards’ decision.
From Antonelli’s side, he described the moment as follows:
“I even avoid hitting the apex on purpose because I saw him coming… He locked up and I was just hoping him not to hit me but at the end I got taken out.”
In short: while Sainz attempted an aggressive inside pass, the stewards judged that he did not have sufficient overlap to justify the move, making the contact his responsibility. Sainz’s own acceptance of fault supports that view, though he still retains a degree of grievance about the abrupt nature of the closing defence.
3. The Penalty Imposed
Following the crash, Sainz faced two layers of sanction:
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A five-place grid penalty for the following race (the Mexican Grand Prix) due to the collision. Since Sainz did not finish the U.S. race, the standard 10-second time penalty was converted into the grid drop.
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Two penalty points were added to his FIA Super Licence, bringing his total to four for the past 12 months.
Sainz responded to the penalties with a commitment to bounce back:
“We’ll bounce back for Mexico next week.”
What This Means for Sainz & Williams
For Sainz, the incident serves as a costly error on a weekend that had begun well — including a podium finish in the sprint race. The DNF not only yielded zero points but also handed a competitive disadvantage heading into Mexico. It puts additional pressure on him and the team to avoid further mistakes and capitalize on pace.
For the Williams team, the crash underlines how fine margins remain crucial even for midfield teams. A strong weekend can quickly unravel with a single misjudged move. They’ll also need to anticipate how future racing situations, especially in battles with younger drivers like Antonelli, might unfold more cautiously.
Closing Thoughts
Carlos Sainz’s crash with Kimi Antonelli at the United States Grand Prix is a vivid example of how split-second decisions and aggressive intent can lead to significant consequences in Formula 1. Sainz owns his part of the error, the stewards placed the blame on him, and the penalty underscores how dangerous such overtakes can be when the overlap is insufficient.
As the season progresses, both Sainz and Williams will need to learn from this incident — balancing ambition with precision, and ensuring that when the pace is strong, the risk is managed. After all, points lost in one weekend can weigh heavily in the championship or midfield battles that follow.
