Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz Jr. Collides with Water Valve Cover, Sparks Controversy in First Practice
Written & Drafted By Shafeek Ahmad, Published On 17-November-2023, 08:15 AM EST.
The inaugural Formula One Las Vegas Grand Prix faced a tumultuous start on Thursday night during the first practice session, as a bizarre incident involving Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz Jr. disrupted the $500 million race.
I. The Water Valve Mishap: The practice session came to a sudden halt just nine minutes in when Carlos Sainz Jr. ran over a water valve cover, damaging his vehicle and prompting a comprehensive inspection of the entire circuit by the FIA.
- The FIA reported that Sainz hit the concrete frame around the cover, leading to a significant delay as all cars were removed from the track for inspection.
- The incident was deemed “unacceptable” by Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur, who expressed frustration over the impact on their session.
II. Ferrari’s Response:
- Sainz was ready to resume practice after the Ferrari team replaced the entire chassis on his car, but Vasseur condemned the incident as a costly error that would burden the team financially.
- Vasseur criticized the situation, calling it unacceptable for Formula One, emphasizing the negative repercussions for Sainz and the team.
III. Penalties Imposed:
- The FIA announced a 10-place grid penalty for Sainz due to the chassis change and other necessary component replacements.
- Mercedes driver Esteban Ocon also suffered damages, adding to the complications of the disrupted session.
IV. Reaction from Mercedes:
- Toto Wolff, Mercedes boss, expressed his frustration over the incident, highlighting the domino effect it had on subsequent sessions. The second practice session was delayed 2.5 hours, affecting the planned 90-minute duration.
- Despite the setback, Wolff found solace in the early stage of the event, downplaying the incident as a minor hiccup in the grand scheme of the race.
V. Defending the Event:
- Wolff defended the event, dismissing concerns about the drain cover incident and fans leaving the spectator areas during FP1. He emphasized the groundbreaking nature of the event and urged perspective on the situation.
- F1 Las Vegas released a statement attributing the incident to a single water valve cover failure but reiterated the commitment to ensuring the safety and success of the race.
Conclusion: Despite the chaotic start, F1 Las Vegas organizers, teams, and officials remained resilient, considering the 17-turn street race as a “mega event” that must continue despite the unexpected challenges.
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Disclaimer:- This news article was written by the help of syndicated feed, Some of the content and drafting are made by the help of Artificial Intelligence (AI) ChatGPT.
About the author: Shafeek Ahmad is a freelance writer passionate about business and entrepreneurship. He covers a wide range of topics related to the corporate world and startups. You can find more of his work on Howtobeaspoonie.com.
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