F1: Carlos Sainz shocked by grid penalty after drain cover drama

Formula One F1 – Las Vegas Grand Prix – Las Vegas Strip Circuit, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S – November 16, 2023 Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz Jr. walks into the pits. REUTERS/Mike Blake

LAS VEGAS–Carlos Sainz said he had paid the price for Formula One’s shortcomings after a loose drain cover wrecked his Ferrari and triggered a 10 place grid penalty at the Las Vegas Grand Prix on Friday.

Thursday’s first practice lasted only eight minutes before Sainz’s car hit the metal cover in a storm of sparks. The second session eventually started at 0230 local time on Friday after safety checks.

Race stewards turned down the Italian team’s request for penalty-free repairs because they said they were obliged to apply the regulations as written.

“The stewards note that if they had the authority to grant a derogation in what they consider in this case to be mitigating, unusual and unfortunate circumstances, they would have done so,” they said.

“However the regulations do not allow such action.”

The Ferrari’s survival cell, engine, energy store and control electronics were all damaged beyond repair.

Drivers are allowed two energy stores for the season and Spaniard Sainz will now be on his third, triggering an automatic 10 place penalty.

Sainz took part in second practice, finishing second fastest behind teammate Charles Leclerc, and he hailed his mechanics for an ‘heroic’ effort.

The joy at getting back on track then evaporated when the team told him of the penalty.

“I was quite excited and optimistic,” he told reporters.

“Unfortunately as the session finished the team told me I was taking a 10 place grid penalty for something that I and the team have no fault and obviously this has changed completely my mindset and my opinion on the weekend and how the weekend is going to go from now on.

“You will not see me very happy this weekend,” he added.

Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz, of Spain, looks at the bottom of his car after running over a manhole cover during the first practice session for the Formula One Las Vegas Grand Prix auto race, Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Nick Didlick)

The Spaniard said there would be overtaking opportunities but he was too upset to discuss what might happen.

“What happened today for me is a very clear example of how this sport can be improved in so many ways,” he said.

“The FIA, teams, rules — this could clearly be applied as force majeure for me not to take a penalty but some way there’s always people, always ways to make the situation worse for an individual and I think in this case it’s my turn to pay the price.”

Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur said the incident was “unacceptable”.

“I think it’s tough for a team to arrive in Vegas and to have this kind of incident,” he said.

Vasseur told reporters after first practice that the incident would cost his team a fortune.

“For sure I’m frustrated. I’m also scared because Carlos hit a metallic part at 320 kph and it could have been much worse,” added the Frenchman.

McLaren boss Zak Brown sympathised with Ferrari and said he would have supported a waiver.

“You’ve got to say that’s force majeure, that’s nothing of their own doing,” he told Sky Sports television. “A very unfortunate and unique incident. I was a bit surprised to see that.

“I think we need to be a bit more supporting if something like that happens. I would support them not getting a penalty.”