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Carlos Sainz Catches Fire in Pit Lane After Forcing Austrian GP Start Abort
IPA

Carlos Sainz Catches Fire in Pit Lane After Forcing Austrian GP Start Abort

Originally posted on Athlon Sports  |  By Samriddhi Jaiswal  |  Last updated Jun 29, 2025 10:48 AM ET

The start of the 2025 Austrian Grand Prix has descended into chaos — and Carlos Sainz is at the heart of it.

As drivers completed the formation lap at the Red Bull Ring, Sainz’s Williams was stuck in the box with Sainz complaining that the car was stuck in the first gear.

His car was inadvertently blocking Lando Norris who was trying to take up his starting position. The awkward jam forced the steward to abort the start procedure, triggering a tense 10-min delay, during which time, the Spaniard was taken to the pit lane.

But the drama didn’t stop there. Moments later, Sainz’s Williams suddenly caught fire, with bright orange flames erupting from the rear brakes.

Williams mechanics frantically doused the blaze with extinguishers, but the damage was already done.

It was a gutting turn of events for Sainz, who’s endured a string of tough weekends since his switch to Williams.

The race has since been delayed as officials work to clear the grid and ensure there are no lingering safety concerns.

Add in the ever-unpredictable Austrian weather, and this race could still have more shocks in store.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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