Saturday of the 2024 Chinese GP was marked by the dispute of a race, the sprint, and a classification, that of Sunday's race, but above all by what happened in the first and which is beginning to smell strange.
And, beyond Max Verstappen's victory, a touch between Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz ended up hindering the options of both, with the Asturian not only abandoning due to a puncture but later penalized with 10 seconds which, as the FIA does not understand nor its own regulations, are worthless: they were added to the time of the sprint race itself and, since it was last, it did not change the final result.
Hours later, a classification was held that had several surprises, such as the early elimination of Lewis Hamilton who went from 2nd in the morning to 18th on the grid this Sunday. Pole, of course, for Verstappen, followed by his teammate Pérez, in a session in which Alonso scored a memorable third time and Sainz 7th despite an accident in Q2, thus both keeping their goals intact for Sunday despite what happened on this tumultuous Saturday.
This was the sprint: victory for Verstappen, sanction for Alonso
The 19 laps of the morning race were held in dry conditions, which is already a novelty compared to what was experienced on Friday, but with the track somewhat cold. Perhaps that explains the departure of Lando Norris, who started first, as soon as it started. Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso remained at the front, but soon the Spaniard had to pay more attention to the rear-view mirrors than to the rear wing of his old rival.
So much so that when he saw himself with a chance of victory, as soon as he was overtaken by Verstappen, he realized the red spot that was coming behind him. It was Carlos Sainz, who also wanted a podium. The incident that followed was, to say the least, debatable. There are arguments to blame both: Sainz said that Alonso was too optimistic, Alonso replied that he had left space and that Sainz closed him down violently. Be that as it may, this race action cost both of them their chances of a 'mini-podium' on Saturday, since Sainz could not go beyond 5th and Alonso finished last after being forced to enter the pits due to a puncture in the touch and with a flat bottom. seriously damaged.
It was not Sainz's only incident in this race, since in his clash with Charles Leclerc there was contact, with the addition that both share a team (until the end of the year). The Monegasque complained bitterly about the attitude of the Spaniard, who later in the classification would also make it clear that, perhaps, he was going somewhat revolutionized this Saturday. The victory went to Verstappen, with Hamilton 2nd and Pérez 3rd, with Sainz finally 5th.
Just before the qualifying dispute, the FIA confirmed the punishment to Fernando Alonso for this action. They sentenced him as guilty of mortgaging Sainz's result and handed him a heavy punishment (of the last ten similar incidents, the harshest punishment): 10 seconds added, which for practical purposes does not change anything, and another 3 points added to his super license: he has already lost 6 in the last year, something totally unprecedented in his career.
The classification: Hamilton disaster, Sainz accident and Alonso flash
Even with the embers of the sprint in the air, the classification left several news. Not so much Max Verstappen's pole, which is something that is beyond doubt every weekend, nor even Sergio Pérez's second place, which is the minimum required for a Red Bull, but rather the one who will start third this Sunday.
Despite the fact that the simulations gave a 7th-8th time for him and that the car is riveted, Fernando Alonso, the only current driver who competed in the inaugural race in China in 2004, achieved a memorable third place. Spurred by the FIA sanction, by his desire or because, simply, all the pieces fit together well, the Asturian wants to get oil this Sunday.
Before this climax, it was a classification with several incidents. The first, starring Lewis Hamilton who went from 2nd in the morning to falling resoundingly in Q1 of this session, so he will start from an embarrassing 18th place. The second big twist in the script was a serious accident for Sainz, thus confirming the suspicions that he is driving his personal engine somewhat accelerated, in Q2. The man from Madrid lost the car in the entrance curve at the finish line and crashed violently, but the Ferrari mechanics were very efficient in getting their driver back out on the track after the forced break. In the end, Sainz scored the 7th time which, in context, is a good starting point for Sunday.
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