AGI – Chaotic Friday in Las Vegas, at the start of a weekend as spectacular as it was, from the first minutes, full of surprises on the circuit developed around the Las Vegas strip. Free practice 1 which opened the three days of the United States Grand Prix ended after just ten minutes due to the impact of Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari with a raised manhole in the straight which brings the riders to the finish line.
This accident forced the Spanish driver to promptly stop the car, causing first a red flag and then the definitive suspension of the session. Damage to the chassis, internal combustion engine, control unit and battery which forced the Red team’s mechanics to work tirelessly to try – as happened later – to get the Spanish driver back on track for the maxi free practice session subsequently decided by the FIA.
Leclerc on the Las Vegas circuit Leclerc on the Las Vegas circuit
The latter, once having overhauled the entire length of the circuit to identify and resolve any new problems related to the asphalt, decided on the penalty of ten positions on the starting grid precisely at Sainz’s address.
Measure that comes into force following the change of the battery on his Ferrari, with the unauthorized use of the third unit out of the two available. “The impact – commented the Ferrari team principal, Frederic Vasseur – completely damaged the monocoque, the engine, the battery. This is simply unacceptable.”
An uphill weekend therefore for the number 55, who can however take heart following the results of the second free practices – which lasted ninety minutes – at the end of which the Spanish driver placed his car in second position on the time grid, immediately behind teammate, Charles Leclerc.
The world champion, Max Verstappen, was only sixth who during the second free practices was unable to find the right feeling, going off the track more than once and making mistakes that were not his fault, but still maintaining a positive race pace and which ignites the anticipation even more in view of free practice three and qualifying on the Nevada circuit.
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2023-11-17 21:29:00
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