Carlos Sainz and Fernando Alonso will both start Saturday’s Zandvoort Sprint from the pit lane after their teams made suspension setup changes under parc fermé conditions.
Sainz had qualified 18th for the Sprint, while Alonso had been set to start from the back in 22nd. However, both Williams and Aston Martin changed the suspension setup on their respective cars without approval from the FIA Technical Delegate.
The changes breached the relevant FIA regulations, meaning both drivers will now have to start from the pit lane rather than their qualifying positions.
For Sainz, it turns an already difficult starting position into an even bigger challenge, while Alonso faces an uphill fight after qualifying last. With the Sprint offering limited laps, both drivers will need to make significant progress through the field to salvage anything from the session.