Ferrari is going through a period of tough luck. The outfit is still reeling from the ridiculous pit-stop strategy and the disqualification of Charles Leclerc at the US GP. However, the Mexican Grand Prix has presented itself, with a whole new set of challenges. From a shortage of car parts for Leclerc to ailing Carlos Sainz, Ferrari seems to have woken up on the wrong side of the bed ahead of the Mexican Grand Prix. More so, the Spaniard for whom the practice sessions are devolving into ways to avoid collisions.

Who doesn’t want a trip to the top step in Formula 1? Or the taste of the bubbly? However, for Carlos Sainz, the practice session almost ended in a trip to the barriers for the carelessness of another driver.

A dangerous practice session at the Mexican Grand Prix for Carlos Sainz

Carlos Sainz was on a fast lap, coming into the right-left flicks of the circuit. However, the Aston Martin of Lance Stroll was positioned in a blind corner, causing the Spaniard to do a 360-degree spin to avoid an accident. Although the Canadian driver moved out of the SF23’s way, his reflexes were too slow. This late reaction prompted Sainz to transmit an angry response over the radio.

He said as quoted on the F1 TV broadcast, “This guy, honestly this guy. If that’s not a penalty? He cannot do that in practice!” Had Sainz not abandoned his fast lap, and instead counted on Stroll to move out of his way, a bad collision was in the making of the headlines. The recklessness of the Aston Martin driver was not lost on Sainz. He said, “Yeah, that’s very dangerous what he did!”

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Call it Ferrari luck, but the incident came moments after his teammate Charles Leclerc was impeded by Magnussen, in the same section of the circuit. 

“Still Has Weaknesses”: Carlos Sainz Gives Grim Update, Commanding Serious Change at Ferrari

The FIA took note of the incident. However, it is highly likely the Aston Martin driver would get off with a reprimand. A penalty during a practice session is quite harsh. Especially coming from a driver who’s himself caused several drivers to abandon their fast laps.

Dangerous what Carlos Sainz did to Piastri and Gasly

Sainz was quick to call for a penalty for Stroll. However, the Spaniard himself has been dangerous to other drivers. He needs to keep in mind that impeding during practice sessions is insignificant compared to qualifying.

At Stroll’s home race, the Ferrari driver caused Pierre Gasly’s demise in Q1. “I just think it’s completely unacceptable to be driving the way Carlos did, it’s just as simple as that,” said Gasly on Sainz’s carelessness on the track. He stood firm in the belief that he would have logged a better lap. However, the French driver qualified only 17th on the grid owing to being blocked. The Spaniard did not start the Sunday race unpunished as he received a three-place grid penalty.

The McLaren rookie, Oscar Piastri was also a victim of Sainz’s slow laps. However, the incident occurred during the third practice session at Monza. Sainz thus, received only black and white flags. However, the aftermath of the small collision was a PR nightmare for the Ferrari driver, as he maintained his innocence despite the evidence mounting against him.

WATCH THIS STORY | Is Carlos Sainz Looking to Move away from Ferrari?

For a driver who’s impeded many during the qualifying sessions, is it really fair to call for a penalty during practice?