Sainz Takes Penalty after Energy Store Damage in Free Practice
Carlos Sainz was forced to replace his third energy store of the season after it sustained damage from running over a water valve cover during FP1. As a result, Sainz was handed a 10-place penalty, which sparked sympathy for Ferrari in the paddock.
The incident was deemed to be outside the control of the team and driver, and was instead caused by a fault with the circuit. Many felt that Ferrari should have been exempt from the penalty due to the force majeure nature of the situation.
Ferrari team principal, Mattia Binotto, expressed his frustration over the situation, stating, “It is unfortunate that we were not able to receive a penalty waiver considering the circumstances. This incident was beyond our control, and it is disappointing to bear the consequences.”
However, the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) rules did not provide any provisions for exception in this case. The penalty was therefore applied as per the regulations.
Sainz himself remained optimistic despite the setback, stating, “It’s a shame to take the penalty, but we will make the best of it. We still have a strong car and plenty of opportunities to make up positions during the race.”
The incident highlighted the importance of ensuring circuit safety and maintenance to prevent such accidents. The focus will now turn to addressing the fault that caused the damage in order to avoid similar incidents in the future.