Sainz caught by surprise in qualifying crash: I had no warning!

Carlos Sainz says he had "no warning" that his car was about to skid off the wet track during qualifying at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.

The Ferrari driver's difficult start to the season has continued, with a Friday crash meaning he will line up back in P10 for Saturday's Sprint.

"I lost the rear... I lost the rear entering the last corner," Sainz explained, speaking to Sky Sports F1.

"Maybe it was starting to rain, maybe it was the tyres after doing two consecutive laps, I don't know."

Sainz crash opens door for Leclerc to extend gap

With big points on offer this weekend, Sainz's qualifying crash has left eight cars between himself and World Championship-leading teammate Charles Leclerc.

After three races, Leclerc already counts a 38-point lead over Sainz. The Monegasque will start P2, behind Red Bull's Max Verstappen, for the Sprint.

"I just needed to put a banker in to react to the rain that was coming, but it was not a lap that was properly on the limit at all. It was a lap that was just okay, just to put a banker in without being on the limit," continued Sainz.

"Unfortunately, I lost it. For some reason, I didn't have any warning that I was going to lose it and it just went.

"I need to understand it because I don't think I was exposing myself to a mistake by driving like that."