FIA Acknowledges Human Error Impacting Sprint Qualifying

The FIA's single-seat director has provided insights into a human error that impacted several drivers during SQ1 of the Sprint Qualifying session. This incident occurred following a red flag caused by Sergio Perez, who left debris on the track after damaging his front wing.

The FIA confirmed that an issue with the timing systems delayed the start of SQ2, as some lap times were not recorded. Although this issue was resolved, a separate human error in Race Control led to the temporary activation of Overtake Mode, which was not available after the red flag. This mistake affected the performance of certain cars, including Carlos Sainz's, who expressed frustration over the situation.

FIA's Nikolas Tombazis explained that the reactivation of Overtake Mode was mishandled due to a delay in responding to a computer prompt. He acknowledged that this error created an unfair advantage for some drivers and emphasized the FIA's commitment to safety and fairness in the sport. The organization is currently reviewing the incident to prevent similar occurrences in the future.