Overview

• Carlos Sainz’s Williams failed to move off from 19th on the grid, prompting race control to abort the start.
• Officials held the field for ten minutes under emergency procedures before restarting the race.
• As Sainz returned to the pit lane, overheated rear brakes began smoking and then burst into flames, ending his day before the race formally began.
• Race control cut one lap from the scheduled distance in accordance with F1 regulations for aborted starts.
• Ambient temperatures near 32 °C and track readings above 50 °C at the Red Bull Ring intensified brake stress that contributed to the incident.