Clash between Sainz and Perez at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix leads to dispute between the teams

Ferrari and Red Bull blamed each other for the late incident that saw both Carlos Sainz and Sergio Perez retire from the Azerbaijan Formula One Grand Prix, with race officials deeming it a racing accident.

As the two were battling for third place on the exit of turn two on the penultimate lap, a collision occurred that resulted in both cars crashing through the barriers and effectively requiring a safety car to be deployed for the remainder of the race.

After suffering a recent dip in form, Pérez was back to his best on the streets of Baku, sticking to the rear of the leading duo of Oscar Piastri and Charles Leclerc for most of the second half of the race before Leclerc's leading Ferrari lost pace as its hard tyres gave up the ghost.

This allowed both Perez and Sainz to get closer and put themselves on a collision course, ending each other's race prematurely.

After speaking to both drivers and studying the data of the incident and the respective driving lines of the previous laps, the race stewards concluded that no further action was required and described the accident as a “racing accident” in which “neither driver was predominantly at fault”.

Perez's frustration was clear as he swore over the team radio after the accident, while Sainz defended his position before a meeting with race control.

“[It was a] “It was a big accident, unfortunately I hit the barrier on the concrete wall. I was very fast behind Charles and Checo and I also saved my tires. I overtook Checo when he was fighting with Charles,” explained Sainz.

“I think we then exited Turn 2. I was driving my normal racing line. I wasn't doing any weird maneuvers or anything. And for some reason that I still don't understand, we collided and yeah, I think he had a lot of room to the left. I wasn't doing any weird moves, but I guess that's how it is in racing.

“Sometimes you do 48 laps without anything and then you have two or three laps left and things like this happen.”

As expected, Sainz's version of events was in stark contrast to Red Bull's view of the incident, with director Helmut Marko placing sole blame on Sainz.

“I see that Sainz swerved to the left quite abruptly, which then caused this crash. It was completely unnecessary to provoke something like that two laps before the end. Perez came out much better and of course did not voluntarily make way,” said Marko.

“He stuck to his line, but the two of them have who knows how many Grand Prix races under their belt. If something like that happens to a beginner, maybe. It cost us an incredible number of points and, as I said, things will be even more difficult for Singapore.”

Speaking to Sky Sports F1 before the race directors decided not to take action against the two, Horner echoed Marko’s sentiments: “He [Perez] deserved a lot more. I just watched the replay and you can see Carlos starting to drift around the track. It's very disappointing. He should have at least been on the podium today.

Christian Horner, Team Principal of Red Bull Racing, talks to Gianpiero Lambiase, Race Engineer of Red Bull Racing

Photo by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Images

“You have to look at what will be imposed next weekend [in terms of a potential penalty for Sainz]it ruined the race for Checo Toady, cost us a lot of damage and of course important points in the constructors' championship.”

In response to Horner's call for race control to take action, Ferrari colleague Fred Vasseur told Autosport: “If Horner is counting on Carlos, then I expect a grid penalty for Checo, he had a lot of space on the left side.”

Perez was more reserved in his comments on the rapprochement in the media, especially given the fact that he had used a swear word immediately afterwards.

“We're super frustrated that we've both had weekends like this for our teams,” he summed up. “It's just a shame because when we came out of Turn 2 there was a meter between the cars and then contact happened within a meter or two.

“I understand what Carlos was trying to do, which was to follow Charles's pull, but I was there and everything happened very quickly because he was faster and his movements caused him to touch my right front tire quite quickly.

“At that point I just felt like he didn't know I was there… that makes me super sad for my team, McLaren overtook us in the championship but the positive thing is that the pace is back.”