Fred Vasseur (Ferrari) & Crash Sainz: Very hard / Formula 1

A scary moment for the Tifosi in the final practice of the Chinese Grand Prix at the Shanghai International Circuit: the Spaniard Carlos Sainz was too greedy at the entrance to the beginning and the end, he inserted his right rear wheel into the gravel, and the spin was inevitable . Sainz hit a rock on the piste, but managed to get out of his bad situation and continue to participate in the qualifying.

Aston Martin then protested based on the fact that the Madrilenian had stopped on the track and therefore should not continue. As stated in the regulations. However, race officials had a different opinion. Because the regulations also state that the driver can continue if he recovers the vehicle under his own power. And that’s what Sainz did.

Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur on the mess: “We have a standard code that is more widespread and therefore more complex. When I started, the rules of the sport had 20 pages, now they are 75.”

“And when the set of rules is so broad, loopholes or conflicting clauses are almost inevitable. I can clearly remember a time when I was still in Alfa Romeo and Kimi Räikkönen was driving around during the test lap at Imola. Once we found two clauses in the regulations that conflicted about Kimi’s continued participation.”

The Frenchman Vasseur adds: “Ultimately, the rules of sport are exactly the same as the technical ones – teams will always try to be smarter than the rules and take advantage of inconsistencies. But in a case like Sainz in China, defining the wording of the rules should not be a big deal.

China-GP, Shanghai International Circuit

01. Max Verstappen (NL), Red Bull Racing, 1:40:52,554 h
02. Lando Norris (GB), McLaren, +13.773
03. Sergio Pérez (MEX), Red Bull Racing, +19,160
04. Charles Leclerc (MC), Ferrari, +23,623
05. Carlos Sainz (E), Ferrari, +33,983
06. George Russell (GB), Mercedes, +38,724
07. Fernando Alonso (E), Aston Martin, +43,414
08. Oscar Piastri (AUS), McLaren, +56.198
09. Lewis Hamilton (GB), Mercedes, +57,986
10. Nico Hülkenberg (D), Haas, +1:00,476 min
11. Esteban Ocon (F), Alpine, +1:02,812
12. Alex Albon (T), Williams, +1:05,506
13. Pierre Gasly (F), Alpine, +1:09,223
14. Guanyu Zhou (RCH), Sauber, +1:11,689
15. Lance Stroll (CDN), Aston Martin, +1:22,768
16. Kevin Magnussen (DK), Haas, +1:27.553
17. Logan Sargeant (USA), Williams, +1:35,110
outside
Daniel Ricciardo (AUS), Racing Bull, collision
Yuki Tsunoda (J), Racing Bulls, Collision
Valtteri Bottas (FIN), clean, engine

World Championship Position (after 5 out of 24 Grands Prix and 1 out of 6 Sprints)

the driver
01. Verstappen 110 points
02. Perez 85
03. Leclerc 76
04. Sainz 69
05. Norris 58
06. Plate 38
07. Russell 33
08. Alonso 31
09. Hamilton 19
10. Walk 9
11. Tsunoda 7
12. Oliver Bearman (GB) 6
13. Hulkenberg 4
14. Magnussen 1
15. Alboni 0
16. Okon 0
17. Zhou 0
18. Ricciardo 0
19. 0 gas
20. Bota 0
21. Sergeant 0

Builders Cup
01. Racing Red Bull 195 Punkte
02. Ferrari 151
03. McLaren 96
04. Mercedes 52
05. Aston Martin 40
06. Running Bull 7
07. Exactly 5
08. Williams 0
09. Alpine 0
10. Sauber 0