The fuel loss that prevented Carlos Sainz from lining up for the Qatar GP did not result from hitting any curbs but might have been due to a possible human error. The problem, detected when refueling, rendered any repair attempts futile, forcing the Spaniard driver to vacate the 12th position on the starting grid.
This time, the pyramid curbs had nothing to do with it. The fuel leak in Carlos Sainz’s SF-23 wasn’t caused by a violent curb strike during the Lusail qualifying session. Fortunately, the Spanish driver’s chassis remained undamaged, putting to rest concerns that a new chassis might be needed for the United States Grand Prix. None of that, to the relief of those calculating the Budget Cap’s spending limits.
However, in Ferrari, they are searching for the real reason that prevented Carlos Sainz from starting the Qatar GP. Indeed, the Madrilenian left the 12th grid position unoccupied due to the impossibility of refueling the red car because of a fuel leak. An unexpected and severe setback in the battle that the Scuderia is waging with Mercedes for second place in the Constructors’ World Championship.
According to insider information reported by Motorsport Italy, Ferrari’s personnel had already noticed a slight fuel seepage upon arrival at the track, but it appears they didn’t attach too much importance to the few drops they saw, considering it a minor issue. However, the damage discovered when refueling for the race was substantial enough to deter the Maranello team from attempting a last-minute repair.
Some speculated that the rubbery safety material sack might have had some porosity, as the FIA permits pressurizing the system up to 1 bar, while the manufacturer, ATL, advises against pushing to that limit. In that case, there would have been an issue to discuss with other teams and the FIA, but the matter seems far more straightforward: an 80% likelihood points to human error. There was no safety risk, just a setback that prevented Carlos from contributing valuable points to the Scuderia’s cause.
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It should be noted that teams aim to delay, up to the regulatory limit, the moment of loading fuel into the car. The reason is easily understood: Formula 1 fuel has high volatility, and with the high temperatures in Qatar, it tends to heat up, losing the calorific value that costs horsepower and, therefore, power. Ferrari mechanics tried to locate the leak for a repair attempt, but each effort failed due to the limited time available. Let’s hope the experience served as a lesson, so this issue won’t recur in the future…
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