It caught fire: Carlos Sainz abandoned the Austrian GP after serious issues with his Ferrari.

Carlos Sainz came close to the podium in Sunday's Austrian Grand Prix. However, a problem with his Ferrari's engine ended the Spanish driver's aspirations. In fact, there was tension on the track because the driver's car caught fire, leading to his withdrawal from the competition.

Sainz was running in third place, but was about to overtake the World Championship leader, Dutchman Max Verstappen (Red Bull), who was second behind the Monegasque Charles Leclerc, the Spanish driver's teammate and current leader of the race. The engine of the Spaniard's Ferrari caught fire, literally, before the fourth of the ten curves of the Austrian circuit.

The Formula 1 broadcast cameras focused on the Spanish driver's car. The first flames appeared at the back and then spread throughout the vehicle. Meanwhile, Sainz tried to quickly exit the cockpit, but it rolled back on its own. So there was quite a concern for the athlete's safety.

After a few seconds, during which Carlos couldn't brake the Ferrari, he was able to leave the car. Then, the 27-year-old Spaniard walked away and sat down on the side of the track, while watching the firefighters extinguish the fire with fire extinguishers in their hands. In parallel, members of the red team lamented what had happened.

In this way, Carlos Sainz, who won last week in Silverstone, had to abandon the Austrian Grand Prix, the eleventh race of the Formula One World Championship, with fifteen laps to go (a total of 72) and when he was apparently on his way to a safe second place, at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg.

Ferrari celebrated

Monegasque Charles Leclerc won the Austrian GP, relegating Dutchman Max Verstappen (Red Bull), the championship leader, to second place; while the seven-time English world champion Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) finished third.

Verstappen - like 24-year-old Leclerc - who set the fastest lap in the race, remains the leader of the World Championship with 208 points, 38 more than the Monegasque driver from Ferrari, who took second place in the championship from 'Checo' Pérez, who is now third with 151. Sainz, who, like the Mexican, did not score this Sunday, remains fourth with 133.