Former Scuderia Ferrari team manager Peter Windsor expressed his bewilderment at the Maranello team’s decision to abandon the attempt to resolve Carlos Sainz’s fuel system issue one hour before the start of the Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix, which took place last weekend at the Lusail International circuit.
Peter Windsor found it unusual since teams have successfully addressed similar issues on the grid in the past. Despite qualifying in 12th position for Sunday’s race at the Lusail circuit, with his teammate Charles Leclerc securing the fifth spot, Ferrari made an unexpected announcement just an hour before the scheduled formation lap, stating that Carlos Sainz would not participate in the race.
“Due to a fuel system issue on his car, Carlos will not take part in the Qatar GP,” the Italian side confirmed with a post on its social media platforms.
Reportedly, the Maranello team identified the fuel leak two hours before the race. However, after dedicating an hour to addressing the problem, they concluded that there was insufficient time for a resolution. Former Ferrari team manager Peter Windsor expressed his astonishment at this turn of events. He pointed out that, historically, similar issues have been successfully rectified while the car remained on the starting grid.
“Before the race Ferrari announced the Carlos Sainz wouldn’t be starting due to what they called a fuel system problem,” – the former team and sponsorship manager explained in his post-Qatar analysis on Youtube. – “Now this is a 2023 super-complicated unbelievably-sophisticated Grand Prix car, fuel system problem couldn’t be fixed, Carlos Sainz out of the Grand Prix unable to start… I mean that hasn’t happened for a long time.”
“And of course, I’ve been around in Formula One for long enough to remember the occasions when fuel pressure problems, fuel metering unit problems, all these things have been solved on the grid and the car got off. Seems bizarre to me that an hour before the race they said that can’t fix this, impossible. I can only assume it has something to do with having to get the tank out of the car or something horrendous like that.” – he explained.
As a result of the unfortunate moment for Carlos Sainz, it was up to Charles Leclerc to carry Ferrari’s banner on his own at the Lusail International Circuit. However, it was far from a favorable evening for the Monegasque driver, who ended the race just as he had started, despite Mercedes providing him with a potential opportunity to climb the ranks when George Russell and Lewis Hamilton collided at Turn 1.
This collision forced Lewis Hamilton out of the race, while George Russell had to make a pit stop for repairs. Despite dropping to the back of the field, he managed to make a remarkable comeback and secured a fourth-place finish, leaving Charles Leclerc behind.
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While Peter Windsor acknowledges that the Lusail circuit doesn’t favor the SF-23’s characteristics, he found the Monegasque’s performance “very disappointing.”
“Charles Leclerc fifth in the Ferrari, kind of as we predicted,” Peter Windsor said. “This was never going to be a good circuit for Ferrari as it doesn’t have any of the things that Ferrari do well, and it was a lone performance from him. Very disappointing really to get blown away by George after the incidents he had. Fair enough they got beaten by McLaren, but he shouldn’t have got beaten by George. Not a good day for Ferrari at all. So great shame for Ferrari only to have one car and for Carlos Sainz to be taking part in the pre-race festivities with a polo shirt tucked into his race suit not looking very happy as you can imagine because this could have been a reasonable day for Carlos Sainz. He might have beaten Charles Leclerc. Who knows.” – the Formula 1 journalist concluded.
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