P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Carlos Sainz said he and Ferrari “couldn’t have got it worse” with the timing of his puncture during the Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix.
Shortly after Sauber’s Valtteri Bottas struck a loose wing mirror on the approach to Turn 1 at the Lusail International Circuit, both Sainz and Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton were struck by punctures. The cause of the punctures, be it debris or strenuous tyre wear at the high-speed Qatar venue is undetermined, but the impact was profound, especially for Sainz. Sainz rued the timing of his puncture, coming just as he started a lap and forcing him to complete a tour of 5.419km circuit with a hampered Ferrari. Despite the disappointing setback, Sainz was able to take solace that he recovered to his starting position, sixth, by the time the chequered flag fell in Qatar. Ferrari Team Principal Frederic Vasseur believed debris, not tyre wear, was the main factor causing punctures in the race. Sainz was frustrated by the delayed Safety Car intervention after his puncture incident, feeling it affected his race adversely.
