The Japanese Sunday of Carlos Sainz it was to forget. The Spaniard from Ferrari, third yesterday in qualifying just half a tenth from pole position, retired after a few corners in the Japanese GP. The F1-75 of him went in acquaplaning during the first lap on the flooded Suzuka track, then crashing into the protective barriers and forcing the # 55 to immediately forfeit. Sainz then experienced moments of pure terror as after the impact against the outer walls of the circuit his Ferrari bounced off the track, being grazed by the other cars that were fast approaching at that point of the circuit.
In the post-race interviews, the same driver from Madrid clearly expressed the fright he felt, saying to “Having trusted in God” in those excited moments. After the race the team principal Mattia Binotto defended Sainz, criticized by some fans for having been the only one of the leading drivers to end up in a spin alone during the first, frantic, race lap. According to the number one of the Ferrari wall, in fact, the withdrawal of the red color bearer depended more on bad luck than on a real mistake. Binotto also contested the race direction’s decision to do start the GP with a standing startpointing out as a start behind the Safety Car – as it happened hours later at the time of restart – would have been a better solution for the safety of the pilots.
“I spoke briefly with Sainz – said Binotto to the microphones of Sky Sport F1 – was surprised by the low level of grip. He lost his car without warning, in aquaplaning. The situation was either unfortunate for him, or lucky for those who didn’t turn around. Then he bounced around the track with other riders arriving fast and didn’t see what was happening. These are very critical and unsafe situations. The best thing was to start behind the Safety Car and evaluate together with the drivers what to do, as it was in the restart“.
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