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Aston Martin protests F1 Chinese GP qualifying results after Sainz red flag crash
Sainz had a dramatic off-track moment at the final corner during the second part of qualifying, causing a red flag stoppage, but he managed to get his Ferrari restarted and return to the pit lane. With quick repairs by Ferrari, Sainz made it back into qualifying and secured a spot in Q3, finishing in seventh place. Aston Martin filed a protest with the FIA regarding the rules about drivers who stop on track during qualifying, specifically referencing Article 39.6 of the F1 sporting regulations. Representatives from Aston Martin and Ferrari are scheduled to meet with the FIA stewards at 6pm local time at the Shanghai circuit to discuss the issue. The protest may impact Sainz’s lap times in Q3 and Q2, potentially benefiting Lance Stroll who narrowly missed out on Q3. Sainz admitted his mistake after the incident, mentioning hitting the kerb too hard and going off track, but he managed to recover and deliver a strong performance in Q2.