Williams Disqualified from Singapore Qualifying Over Rear Wing Issue

When Williams saw its two cars stripped of qualifying times at the 2025 Singapore Grand PrixMarina Bay Street Circuit, the shock rippled through paddock and fan forums alike. The FIA’s technical delegates found that the newly‑fitted rear wings on the Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon cars violated the maximum‑gap rule in the outboard sections, a breach that forces Sainz to start last on the grid and Albon to join the pit‑lane start.

Technical Regulations and the Rear‑Wing Rule

Since 2022, the FIA has tightened the tolerances on rear‑wing element spacing to curb aerodynamic tricks that give an unfair advantage on high‑downforce tracks. The rule states that the gap between the upper and lower elements must not exceed 30 mm at any measured point. Teams run sophisticated laser‑scan rigs on‑track, but the final check still happens under the watchful eye of the scrutineers after qualifying.

Williams introduced a revised rear‑wing package for Singapore, hoping to extract an extra tenth of a second per lap. Internal data showed the middle section met the 30‑mm limit, yet the outboard measurements—taken from a different side‑view angle—registered 32.4 mm, breaching the allowed tolerance.

This echoes the Haas controversy at Monaco 2024, where a similar mis‑read led to a three‑place grid penalty. In both cases, the design office’s CAD files matched the internal checks, but a communication gap meant the final track‑side configuration differed from the approved specification.

Qualifying Drama and Disqualifications

Qualifying on Saturday night unfolded under dazzling lights, with Max Verstappen pounding out a pole‑winning lap of 1:36.477 for Red Bull Racing. Behind him, George Russell in the Mercedes secured second, and Oscar Piastri claimed third for McLaren.

When the FIA announced the post‑qualifying checks, the Williams crew heard the dreaded "non‑compliant" verdict. Both drivers were stripped of their times; Sainz was slotted into the 20th grid spot, while Albon, having altered his floor setup after the breach was identified, was relegated to the pit lane.

Alpine’s Pierre Gasly also faced a pit‑lane start after his team swapped the floor specification of his A525 following an 18th‑place qualifying finish. The stewards, however, allowed all twenty cars to line up, preserving a full‑field start despite the penalties.

Grid Line‑up and Pit‑Lane Starts

• 1 – Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
• 2 – George Russell (Mercedes)
• 3 – Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
• 4 – Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes rookie)
• 5 – Lando Norris (McLaren)
• 6 – Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
• 7 – Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
• 8 – Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls)
• 9 – Oliver Bearman (Haas)
• 10 – Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
• …
• 20 – Carlos Sainz (Williams) – last on the grid
• Pit‑lane – Alex Albon (Williams) & Pierre Gasly (Alpine)

The pit‑lane starters will join the race after the field has passed the start‑line, meaning they lose the chance to fight back from the first corner. For Albon, who qualified eighth before the penalty, the loss is especially painful.

Reactions from Teams and Drivers

Williams team principal James Vowles (formerly Mercedes) acknowledged the error in a brief press statement: "We accept the FIA’s findings. Our internal checks missed a critical measurement on the outboard sections. We’ll review our workflow to ensure this doesn’t happen again."

Albon, visibly frustrated, told reporters, "It’s a huge disappointment. We felt the car was ready to fight for points, and now we’re stuck behind the pit‑lane wall. I trust the team to fix this for the race proper."

Red Bull’s technical director Pierre Dupasquier commented that the incident underscores why the FIA’s scrutiny on aerodynamics is "more intense than ever on street circuits where downforce is king."

Alpine’s team boss Frédéric Vasseur defended the floor change, noting that the adjustment was made to improve tyre wear after the long qualifying stint.

Implications for Williams and the Championship

Williams, once a dominant force in the early 2000s, has struggled to recapture that glory. The Singapore setback means zero points from qualifying — a lost opportunity to climb out of the lower midfield. If Sainz manages a top‑10 finish from the back, it could soften the blow, but the team’s morale is already dented.

From a constructors’ perspective, the penalty adds pressure on the senior rivals. Mercedes and Red Bull, already locked in a tight points battle, see an extra margin, while Ferrari hopes to capitalize on the chaos to close the gap to the leaders.

Analysts at Motorsport.com predict that Williams will finish the season with fewer than 30 points unless the technical department tightens its compliance processes. The incident also fuels debate about whether the FIA should adopt a pre‑qualifying technical check, which could prevent last‑minute scrutineering surprises.

What to Watch on Race Day

Sunday’s race will test drivers’ ability to manage tyre degradation in humid conditions. The pit‑lane starters, Albon and Gasly, will have a clear track ahead but must navigate traffic once they join. Their strategies could involve an early undercut to gain track position.

Verstappen, starting from pole, will aim to control the pace and avoid the usual safety‑car periods that often shuffle the order on the tight Marina Bay circuit. Mercedes will likely pit Russell early to protect his position, while Ferrari hopes Hamilton can extract a podium finish from sixth.

For Williams, the key question is whether Sainz can turn a 20th‑place start into a points‑scoring finish. A strong recovery drive would be a morale booster and a reminder that the team still has competitive talent despite the technical hiccup.