The FIA has created “unnecessary confusion” for Carlos Sainz
For the driver Carlos Sainz Jr and his team, the FIA must speed up its decision-making process after the unnecessary confusion of the Jeddah Grand Prix.
With less than twenty laps to go, the safety car joined the drivers on the track after Nicholas Latifi’s accident. Coming out of the pits, Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz emerged very close to Sergio Pérez. However, the Spaniard lost his position to the Mexican during this short period of time after Pérez accelerated.
The Scuderia therefore spoke with the race controllers about this, considering that Pérez should have given back the position to the Ferrari driver, according to the rules of position under safety car conditions. And despite the images showing that Sainz was indeed ahead, the FIA took too long and did not resolve the situation before the restart.
The FIA is far too slow for Ferrari.
(In English): « In the end, we created confusion that, in my opinion, was unnecessary, considering that we had six safety car laps and Checo had numerous opportunities to let me pass and resume the fight on the restart,” explained Sainz. « If, for example, I had been overtaken by George Russell, what would we have done? Should Checo have let both of us pass, which would have been really unfair to him, or should Checo not let me pass because George is between us, which would be really unfair to me?” he questioned.
« It’s just this kind of thing that, in sports, we need to improve because I think we need to simplify things and make them easier and quicker to understand for everyone, even for the pilots, ensuring that they go racing with a free mind. » concluded Carlos Sainz.
At Ferrari, Sainz Jr’s opinion is shared by the majority of the team, including the team principal Mattia Binotto.
(I) I think it took them a little too long to make up their minds and give the answer to the commissioners,” admitted Binotto. (I) Finally, it seems like they made their decision when the safety car was going back in and it was too late to switch positions before the restart. So it’s not a blame, but in these types of situations, we need to be much quicker because it was obvious and simple.
