A challenging start for the Spanish driver who had to make a long stop in the pits due to an issue at the beginning of the session.
A Bumpy Start
The first free practice session for Ferrari in Mexico got off to a challenging start. Carlos Sainz, in particular, encountered immediate difficulties. Sainz, who secured third place in the previous US Grand Prix thanks to Lewis Hamilton’s controversial disqualification for excessive floor wear, faced hydraulic problems with his SF-23 just minutes into FP1.
Sainz’s issues revolved around the steering, which was essentially stuck. The Singapore Grand Prix winner struggled to make it back to the pit lane, having cut practically every corner of the circuit in an attempt to shorten the slow crawl back to the pits. Mechanics immediately got to work on the car, leading to a roughly half-hour stop in the garage for the Madrilenian driver.
Charles Leclerc’s Concerns
Charles Leclerc also faced some apparent hiccups. The Monegasque driver reported at the beginning of FP1 that he heard a strange noise coming from his power unit when he pushed the throttle to the maximum.
“It’s like a metallic noise,” clarified car #16. However, these concerns did not lead to any preventive stops for his car. Certainly not the best way to kick off the weekend for the two Maranello racers, who are engaged in a tough battle with Mercedes for the role of the second-strongest team in this championship.
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