Carlos Sainz escapes punishment after Max Verstappen incident

Carlos Sainz has escaped punishment following his near miss with Max Verstappen in final practice ahead of this weekend's Belgian Grand Prix.

The Williams driver was investigated for allegedly failing to slow under yellow flags after almost hitting Verstappen, an incident the Dutchman described as "unbelievable".

Double-waved yellow flags were required at the end of FP3 following Lewis Hamilton's accident at Turn 13, which scattered debris and gravel across the circuit.

Both Sainz and Verstappen were summoned to the stewards, with data and video footage from both cars analysed.

Ultimately, it was decided that no further action was required against Sainz, with the stewards satisfied that he had slowed sufficiently and in accordance with the regulations.

According to the stewards, the near miss occurred because Verstappen braked harder than Sainz had anticipated, catching the Spaniard by surprise. Crucially, however, Sainz did not overtake Verstappen and was travelling at the correct speed when he entered the double-waved yellow flag zone.

The stewards' report read: "The Stewards heard from the driver of Car 55 (Carlos Sainz), the driver of Car 3 (Max Verstappen), team representatives and reviewed positioning/marshalling system data, video, telemetry, team radio and in-car video evidence. 

"During the session Car 44 collided with the barrier at the exit of turn 13 triggering a double yellow sector from the approach to turn 12 to turn 14. Car 55 and Car 3 had both passed through this double yellow sector on the previous lap. 

"Car 55 was behind Car 3 on the approach to the double yellow zone. Both cars commenced braking prior to the start of the zone but the driver of Car 3 applied more brake pressure than the driver of Car 55 had expected and as a consequence the driver of Car 55 had to take evasive action and move to the right of Car 3, locking brakes but not overtaking. Both drivers stated they were surprised, the driver of Car 3 by Car 55 closing so quickly after Car 3 had commenced braking before the zone, and the driver of Car 55 by Car 3 braking more heavily than he had anticipated. 

"The relevant rules require a driver to reduce speed significantly when passing through a double waved yellow marshalling sector. Compliance with the rules does not expressly require that a significant speed reduction occur before the sector but in this case both drivers had commenced to do so, both braking approximately 80m before the start of the sector. By the time Car 55 entered the double yellow sector, it had reduced speed significantly and maintained a significantly reduced speed throughout the sector. The Stewards were therefore satisfied that the driver of Car 55 committed no infringement, the locking of brakes was attributable to a misunderstanding of relative braking and determined to take no further action."