Carlos Sainz concluded his qualifying session in seventh place in tabloid format. During the qualifying session at the Shanghai circuit, Sainz spun in Q2, resulting in a red flag. Despite hitting the barriers, Sainz’s quick thinking allowed him to regain control of his SF-24 without suffering significant damage. Although he experienced a range of emotions in those few seconds, Sainz managed to make a successful lap in Q3.
In his post-event interview, Sainz expressed the difficulties he faced in regaining composure after the accident. He acknowledged that hitting at the right angle and avoiding direct impact with the rear tire required precise maneuvers. This incident highlights Sainz’s intelligence and has made him a highly sought-after driver in the market. Several teams have made tempting offers to secure his services, but only time will reveal his fate for next year.
Furthermore, Fernando Alonso received a penalty for colliding with Carlos Sainz during the sprint race of the Chinese Grand Prix. This resulted in three penalty points and a ten-second time penalty for Alonso. Sainz had overtaken Alonso, who was in third place, but the latter’s late braking maneuver at turn 9 caused contact and both drivers lost positions. Unfortunately, Alonso’s race came to an early end due to a puncture in the right front tire.
After carefully reviewing the incident, the FIA Stewards penalized Alonso. However, Alonso must now focus on future challenges and opportunities. With a fantastic starting position in third place for tomorrow’s race, he will seek to surpass the Ferrari and McLaren drivers to secure a spot on the podium at the Chinese GP.