Sainz retires after Hulkenberg collision at Monaco, penalty

Carlos Sainz's hopes for a points finish at the 2026 Monaco Grand Prix ended abruptly on Sunday after a collision during a late restart forced his retirement. The Williams driver was hit by Nico Hulkenberg's Audi at the Loews Hairpin, an incident that race officials later penalized, before further contact with Franco Colapinto's Alpine ended his race for good.

The clash occurred on Lap 70 as the field bunched up for the restart following a red flag period. Sainz, who was running in 10th position and on course to extend his scoring streak in Monaco, was tagged by Hulkenberg as they navigated the tight corner. The contact sent Sainz into a barrier, causing significant damage to his car. He attempted to continue but was then spun by Colapinto at the Portier corner, forcing him to retire the car.

After the race, a visibly frustrated Sainz criticized the driving standards, calling the risks taken by some rivals "stupid" and "borderline unacceptable." He stated that he was the victim of an over-optimistic move that threw away a potential points finish for his team. He emphasized that such incidents are predictable at Monaco's notorious hairpin, where the field typically compresses.