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Carlos Sainz may lose P3 on Las Vegas GP grid over Lance Stroll incident

Carlos Sainz is at risk of losing his third-place grid position for the Las Vegas Grand Prix, as he was summoned to the Formula 1 stewards having allegedly rejoined the circuit unsafely ahead of Lance Stroll.

Sainz went off the road in Q1 at Turn 5 and was seen to return to the track ahead of Stroll. The stewards elected to investigate after the session in a wet qualifying at Las Vegas.

Although both drivers progressed through Q1, they enjoyed differing fortunes thereafter: Stroll's gamble on the intermediate tyre during Q2 did not pay off and the Canadian could only finish the session 12th, while Sainz briefly held provisional pole before being pipped by Max Verstappen.

The two were then beaten by Lando Norris' pole lap, pushing Sainz down to third place in the order.

The stewards flagged the incident in reference to an alleged breach of Article 33.3 in the F1 sporting regulations, which states that "should a car leave the track the driver may re-join, however, this may only be done when it is safe to do so and without gaining any lasting advantage".

Carlos Sainz, Williams, Zak Brown, McLaren (Photo by: Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images)

Should Sainz be found to have transgressed that regulation, it is likely that this would be accompanied with a grid penalty.

Sainz's team-mate Alex Albon looked set to join his team-mate as far as Q2, but his crash at the end of the opening phase of qualifying ensured that Sainz was the only Williams driver to progress beyond Q1.

Photos from Las Vegas GP - Practice and Qualifying 

Lando Norris, McLaren

Las Vegas GP - Friday, in photos

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

Las Vegas GP - Friday, in photos

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari SF-25

Las Vegas GP - Friday, in photos

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

Las Vegas GP - Friday, in photos

Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing Team

Las Vegas GP - Friday, in photos

Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing Team

Las Vegas GP - Friday, in photos

Alexander Albon, Williams

Las Vegas GP - Friday, in photos

Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team

Las Vegas GP - Friday, in photos

Yuki Tsunoda, RB F1 Team VCARB 02

Las Vegas GP - Friday, in photos

James Vowles, Team Principal of Williams

Las Vegas GP - Friday, in photos

Pierre Gasly, Alpine

Las Vegas GP - Friday, in photos

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Las Vegas GP - Friday, in photos

Isack Hadjar, RB F1 Team

Las Vegas GP - Friday, in photos

Oscar Piastri, McLaren MCL39

Las Vegas GP - Friday, in photos

Alex Albon, Williams FW47

Las Vegas GP - Friday, in photos

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB21, Yuki Tsunoda, RB F1 Team VCARB 02

Las Vegas GP - Friday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-25

Las Vegas GP - Friday, in photos

Dan Towriss, CEO of TWG Motorsports and Cassidy Towriss arrive in the Paddock

Las Vegas GP - Friday, in photos

Dan Towriss, CEO of TWG Motorsports and Cassidy Towriss arrive in the Paddock

Las Vegas GP - Friday, in photos

Ben Affleck in the Paddock

Las Vegas GP - Friday, in photos

Ben Affleck in the Paddock

Las Vegas GP - Friday, in photos

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Las Vegas GP - Friday, in photos

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Las Vegas GP - Friday, in photos

Laurent Mekies, Red Bull Racing

Las Vegas GP - Friday, in photos

Laurent Mekies, Red Bull Racing

Las Vegas GP - Friday, in photos

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team, Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

Las Vegas GP - Friday, in photos

An Elvis impersonator in the Paddock during final practice

Las Vegas GP - Friday, in photos

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Las Vegas GP - Friday, in photos

Blaise Matuidi in the Alpine F1 garage

Las Vegas GP - Friday, in photos

Blaise Matuidi in the Alpine F1 garage

Las Vegas GP - Friday, in photos

George Russell, Mercedes

Las Vegas GP - Friday, in photos

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

Las Vegas GP - Friday, in photos

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing

Las Vegas GP - Friday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Las Vegas GP - Friday, in photos

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Las Vegas GP - Friday, in photos

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Las Vegas GP - Friday, in photos

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Las Vegas GP - Friday, in photos

George Russell, Mercedes

Las Vegas GP - Friday, in photos

George Russell, Mercedes

Las Vegas GP - Friday, in photos

Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing Team

Las Vegas GP - Friday, in photos

Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing Team

Las Vegas GP - Friday, in photos

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Las Vegas GP - Friday, in photos

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Las Vegas GP - Friday, in photos

George Russell, Mercedes

Las Vegas GP - Friday, in photos

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Las Vegas GP - Friday, in photos

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Las Vegas GP - Friday, in photos

Franco Colapinto, Alpine

Las Vegas GP - Friday, in photos

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing

Las Vegas GP - Friday, in photos

George Russell, Mercedes

Las Vegas GP - Friday, in photos

George Russell, Mercedes

Las Vegas GP - Friday, in photos

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

Las Vegas GP - Friday, in photos

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Las Vegas GP - Friday, in photos

Pierre Gasly, Alpine

Las Vegas GP - Friday, in photos

Franco Colapinto, Alpine

Las Vegas GP - Friday, in photos

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

Las Vegas GP - Friday, in photos

Pierre Gasly, Alpine

Las Vegas GP - Friday, in photos

Pierre Gasly, Alpine

Las Vegas GP - Friday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Las Vegas GP - Friday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Las Vegas GP - Friday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren

Las Vegas GP - Friday, in photos

Carlos Sainz, Williams, Zak Brown, McLaren

Las Vegas GP - Friday, in photos

Franco Colapinto, Alpine

Las Vegas GP - Friday, in photos

Carlos Sainz, Williams, Zak Brown, McLaren

Las Vegas GP - Friday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren

Las Vegas GP - Friday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren

Las Vegas GP - Friday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Las Vegas GP - Friday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Las Vegas GP - Friday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Las Vegas GP - Friday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Las Vegas GP - Friday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren

Las Vegas GP - Friday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Las Vegas GP - Friday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Las Vegas GP - Friday, in photos

Franco Colapinto, Alpine

Las Vegas GP - Friday, in photos

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Las Vegas GP - Friday, in photos

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Las Vegas GP - Friday, in photos

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Las Vegas GP - Friday, in photos

Formula 1
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