Despite facing one of the most unfortunate penalties in recent F1 history, Ferrari still has TWO opportunities for retribution, as explained in the video bellow. Carlos Sainz received a highly disputed 10-place grid penalty for the Las Vegas Grand Prix, all due to significant damage caused by a track fault within minutes of the inaugural practice session for the new race.
During the first free practice session for the Las Vegas Grand Prix, Carlos Sainz collided with a loose water valve inspection cover, resulting in severe damage to his car’s floor, chassis, seat, and engine. To remedy the situation, the Maranello team had to provide the Spaniard with a new battery, constituting part of the replacement engine components. This replacement triggered an automatic 10-place drop as it exceeded his seasonal allocation for that specific component for the first time.
Even the stewards acknowledged the excessive severity of the penalty, recognizing that “the damage was caused by highly unusual external circumstances.” They openly admitted that they would have waived the penalty if only there were a legitimate way to do so.
This incident generated widespread sympathy for Carlos Sainz and prompted criticism of the rules, officials, and the perceived political motivations of Ferrari’s competitors. Questions arose about why this penalty had to be imposed and why it couldn’t be dismissed in such an unusual and exceptional scenario.
— see video above —
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