Carlos Sainz Slams Pirelli and FIA for Huge Mishap in Communication at the Qatar GP

Carlos Sainz Slams Pirelli and FIA for Huge Mishap in Communication at the Qatar GP

The 2023 Qatar GP was not very popular among fans for several reasons, mainly the immense physical torture that the drivers had to go through. However, another thing that irks Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz is that he and the other drivers didn’t receive proper communication about the tires, the surface, or even the track limits until it was too late. Sainz slammed the same during the weekend, and called for changes, as per Motorsport.

In 2021, when F1 debuted in Qatar, the FIA and Pirelli received a lot of criticism. Several drivers struggled with severe tire wear, which resulted in unforeseen flat spots and punctures. This time, they wanted to make certain changes to the track, in terms of the layout and how drivers could use the track (in terms of limits).

However, as revealed by Sainz, no one got to know about this from Pirelli or the FIA. Instead, they had to wait until the press got to know about the same, that too, not a long time before they had to take to the track. This mishap in communication was troublesome for the teams, and Sainz called this out.

No one told the drivers about Qatar GP’s track limit changes

Track limits were a huge problem for several teams in Lusail last weekend. We saw several lap times get deleted- during qualifying and also during both races. As it turns out, the drivers were not informed about the changes to track limits by the FIA.

“When we arrived here in the morning, we saw the news in the press,” Sainz said as per Motorsport. “No one informed us that there were changes in terms of track limits. And no one told us told us that the tires were delaminating or something like that.”

Furthermore, Sainz also added that neither he, nor anyone on the grid was supportive about these changes. This is mainly because none of them were involved in the decision making. The entire GPDA group was unhappy about the fact that this happened without their input, and that they had to learn about it from the press.

Weekend to forget for Carlos Sainz in Qatar

The second of the season has seen Carlos Sainz become fairly consistent and get up to speed with the SF-23. He even managed to win the Singapore GP, becoming the first non-Red Bull driver to win a race this season.

Qatar, however, was a disappointment. He failed to get into Q3 in qualifying which was a disaster as it is. On top of that, he couldn’t even start the race on Sunday, because of mechanical issues, that brought his weekend to a close even before the lights went out.

Sainz is still ahead of Charles Leclerc in the standings, but by just eight points. The Spaniard will be desperate to hold on to P5, or even get up to P4, but for that, he has to outperform Leclerc in the remaining five races of the season.

 

Post Edited By: Somin Bhattacharjee

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Somin Bhattacharjee

Basketball Editor Somin Bhattacharjee first discovered the game during the 2014 FIBA World Cup. Not long after, he turned to the NBA and found himself drawn to the Golden State Warriors — right at the start of Stephen Curry’s rise. Over time, the admiration turned into full-blown support for the team, one that continues even as the Curry era approaches its twilight. A true hoophead, Somin also follows EuroLeague basketball closely and enjoys exploring the game beyond the NBA. Though holding a bachelor's degree in marketing, Somin discovered his true calling in writing. Since 2021, he has penned over 3,000 articles for TheSportsRush, covering everything from breaking news to sharp opinion pieces and detailed exclusives. He thrives on writing about in-game moments and the reactions that make basketball a uniquely emotional sport. Beyond basketball, Somin plays different sports including soccer and remains a passionate fan of Spanish football giants Real Madrid

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