The Ferrari driver caused the first practice session at the Las Vegas Grand Prix to be cancelled after less than ten minutes of action when he drove over a loose manhole cover.
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CCTV footage from the track showed the moment Sainz’s car caused a huge outburst of sparks as the bottom of his car was ravaged by the cover.
The freak accident at the newly-created street circuit caused irreparable damage to his engine and chassis.
The damage meant Sainz would need to take a third energy store component, with drivers only allowed two for the full season.
Ferrari asked for an exception to the rules to make penalty-free repairs on the car due to the “highly unusual external circumstances”.
However, race stewards rejected this request and handed Sainz a ten-place grid penalty.
Their statement read: “The mandatory penalty specified under Article 28.3 of the Sporting Regulations must be applied.
“The Stewards note that if they had the authority to grant a derogation in what they consider in this case to be mitigating, unusual and unfortunate circumstances, they would have done so, however the regulations do not allow such action.”
Fans vented their fury at the decision by taking to social media.
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One fan said: “Sainz penalty an absolute farce! Shows what a mess
@FIA has dug itself into with every extra page they add to their rulebook.”
A second said: “FIA needs to sit down and go through every page of that bloody rulebook. You’re making a mockery of this sport.”
A third said: “The fact that the FIA is penalizing @Carlossainz55 with a grid penalty when an actual circuit issue caused damage to his car is the most unfair thing I’ve seen in @F1 since the Race Director debacle in the final race of 2021.”
Another said: “So the grid was not checked properly, caused issues with @Carlossainz55 car, and massive delays…but he still gets the penalty… Ridiculous rules!!”
A fifth said: “Sainz gets penalty because @F1 didn’t do their job right.”
While a sixth added: “That Sainz 10 place grid penalty is an utter disgrace, yeah I get rules are rules etc but surely when it’s through no fault of their own whatsoever; the organisers should be compensating for this.”
Sainz said he was in “disbelief” at the decision, while McLaren chief Zak Brown also sympathised with him.
Sainz said: “The team communicated to me that I was taking a 10-place grid penalty for something that I have no fault, and the team have no fault.
“That changed completely my mindset and my opinion on the weekend and how it’s going to go from now on. I’m disappointed and in disbelief with the situation.
“You will not see me very happy this weekend.”
Brown added: “You’ve got to say that’s force majeure, that’s nothing of their own doing. A very unfortunate and unique incident. I was a bit surprised to see that.
“I think we need to be a bit more supporting if something like that happens. I would support them not getting a penalty.”
However, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff attempted to fight F1’s corner following the incident.
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