Carlos Sainz Incident: FIA rejects Ferrari’s request for penalty removal
After hitting a sewer cover during the first practice session, Carlos Sainz's car suffered significant damage. Faced with the need to install new parts on the car, Ferrari asked the FIA to waive the penalties. This request was rejected by the international governing body.
The verdict was announced shortly before 11 am, French time. Carlos Sainz will have to undergo a grid penalty for changing components on his car. However, the Spanish driver is not at fault and had to endure the imperfections of the newly inaugurated American track. Nevertheless, the FIA is uncompromising and cannot deviate from the rules.
Ferrari must change 4 components on the driver’s car: a part of the chassis, the engine, the battery, and the electronic control unit.
Even if the commissioners wished to exempt Carlos Sainz from a penalty, they declared that the « regulation does not allow for such action.
Extract from the FIA press release
« Having received a request from the competitor seeking an exemption from the sporting regulations to allow for the replacement of the energy reservoir outside the quota, without penalty; and having heard from the team representative, the Director of the Single-Seater Department of the FIA, having watched the video evidence and examined the team’s declaration sheet, the Stewards determine that, notwithstanding the fact that the damages were caused by very unusual external circumstances, Article 2.1 of the Formula 1 Sporting Regulations obliges all officials, including the Stewards, to apply the regulations as they are written.
« As a result, the mandatory penalty provided for in Article 28.3 of the Sports Regulations must be applied. »
A sewer cover that could be costly in this end of the season marked by a battle between Ferrari and Mercedes for second place in the Constructors’ Championship. An event that also raises questions about the uncertainties of Formula 1 and their consequences, which can be terrible and lead to controversies.
