P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Carlos Sainz says he has “paid the price” for F1’s failings after being hit with a penalty at the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
During the opening practice, the Ferrari driver ran over a loose water valve cover, causing irreparable damage to his car and leading to the session being cancelled. As a result, Ferrari had to make significant changes to Carlos Sainz’s power unit, chassis, and survival cell, resulting in a 10-place grid penalty for the race. Ferrari requested the penalty to be waived, but their efforts were rejected, leaving Sainz unhappy with the situation. He expressed disappointment and disbelief, stating that the incident was not his fault or the team’s. Sainz believes this incident highlights areas where Formula 1 can be improved. However, he acknowledged the heroic effort of his team in getting his car ready for the second practice session, allowing him to focus on the upcoming race.