Carlos Sainz had to withdraw from the Austrian Grand Prix before the race even started due to his Williams Formula 1 car not moving for the formation lap. He reported over team radio that something was preventing the car from moving forward, getting stuck in first gear. Despite forcing the car into neutral and heading back to the pits, the start had to be aborted as the polesitter had already completed his formation lap. As Sainz headed back to the pitlane, the rear brakes of his Williams car caught fire, leading to his race ending prematurely as he jumped out of the car. With Sainz out, Williams was left with only one car on the grid. The incident was described as a deflating moment for the drivers and the engineers, impacting not just Sainz but the whole team. Meanwhile, other drivers like Fernando Alonso and George Russell faced their own challenges and preparation issues while waiting for the delayed start.
Related posts
-

Watch: F1 drivers react as Franco Colapinto narrowly avoids horror shunt
The top three drivers of the opening F1 race of the 2026 season could not believe... -

Alonso’s Bold Forecast: F1 Chinese GP Fate Revealed Amid Aston Martin Misfortune
Fernando Alonso has delivered a brutal assessment of Aston Martin's prospects following a challenging F1 Australian... -

Thrilling Finale: Recap of the F1 Australian Grand Prix 2026 Results with Penalties Imposed
F1 Australian Grand Prix 2026 results: Final classification with penalties applied -

Mercedes’ Superior Engineering: Unveiling the Astonishing Potential of the 2026 Engine
Williams was 'caught off guard' by what the works Mercedes team has been able to extract... -

Inside the Mind of Jonathan Rea: Delving into His Decision to Join Honda WorldSBK as Test Rider
Six-time WorldSBK champion Jonathan Rea explains what enticed him to reunite with Honda as its official... -
Verstappen Channels Mario Kart Magic in Australia Grand Prix Comeback
Max Verstappen drove a strong overtaking race in Australia. Nevertheless, he had it far from easy.




