Just moments before the Austrian Grand Prix was set to get underway, Carlos Sainz’s race came to a dramatic and disappointing end—without him even completing a single lap.
In a sudden and unexpected turn of events, his Williams car caught fire, throwing the grid into confusion and delaying the start of the race by 10 minutes.
Brake Trouble Turns to Flames
It all started with a brake issue. Sainz radioed in concerns about his car’s braking system, and not long after, smoke began billowing from the rear of his Williams. Then came the flames.
Thankfully, he was near the pit entrance when it all unfolded, making it easier for marshals to get to him quickly.
They rushed over with fire extinguishers and brought the fire under control.
Sainz’s Short-Lived Sunday
Unfortunately, that was it for the Spanish driver.
He didn’t even make it to the starting grid properly.
Earlier, he’d already stalled as the formation lap began and had to be manually restarted by marshals.
Moments later, his race engineer Gaetan Jego delivered the final blow over the radio: “Game over, Carlos, jump out.”
As Sainz was wheeled back into the garage, his team principal James Vowles was seen on the pit wall, visibly disheartened, his head in his hands.
A Tough Year for the Spaniard
This latest setback is just one more in what’s already been a tough 2025 season for Sainz.
He hasn’t finished higher than eighth in any race so far and has only collected points in six events.
It’s a stark contrast to his strong 2024 campaign, where he landed fifth in the championship standings with nine podium finishes, including wins in Melbourne and Mexico City.
Lights Out, Dreams Dashed
With Sainz out before the race even officially began, it was Lando Norris who led the pack from pole position, followed closely by Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.
But for Sainz, the day ended in smoke and frustration—a harsh reminder of just how quickly things can go wrong in Formula One.
