McLaren CEO Zak Brown slams F1 ‘self-interest’ after ‘unfair’ Las Vegas GP incident

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McLaren CEO Zak Brown believes Carlos Sainz getting a grid penalty for the Las Vegas Grand Prix is ‘unfair’ after the Ferrari Formula 1 driver struck a manhole cover in FP1.

The race stewards announced during FP2 in Sin City that Sainz will take a 10-place grid drop. Ferrari have now exceeded their number of power unit components allowed after having to replace his engine and battery. The Scuderia also had to replace the Spaniard’s survival cell.

Sainz sustained significant damage during the early laps of first practice for the Las Vegas GP. The downforce from Esteban Ocon’s Alpine lifted a manhole cover out of the grid. It left the French racer with damage and yellow flags were waved but Sainz struck the loose cover.

Sainz receives a grid penalty for the Las Vegas GP

Formula 1 scrapped the rest of FP1 as engineers worked to resolve the dangerous situation of having loose water valve covers around the track. Ferrari also worked relentlessly during the gap into FP2 to repair Sainz’s car, replacing his ICE, energy store and control electronics.

It is the third energy store that Sainz has taken this year, sparking a 10-place grid penalty for the Las Vegas GP. Ferrari applied to have Sainz’s penalty removed due to the circumstances. But the FIA stewards noted the rules do not allow for him to avoid a penalty, per Autosport.

Brown believes F1 teams should be ‘more sporting’

McLaren CEO Brown claims it is ‘unfair’ for Sainz to receive a grid penalty for the Las Vegas GP owing to damage sustained from issues with the track. This weekend is the first time that Formula 1 has raced on the iconic Strip. F1 is also the sole series racing in Nevada this week.

“Yeah, for sure,” Brown explained to Sky Sports F1 (17/11, 10:45). “I mean, you’ve got to say that’s force majeure, that’s nothing of their own doing. [It is] a very unfortunate and unique incident. I was a bit surprised to see that. I think we’ve got to be a bit more sporting.”

Sky Sports F1 further suggested to Brown that at least one rival Formula 1 team would have blocked the FIA from removing Sainz’s grid penalty if it were possible. To which the McLaren chief noted that ‘self-interest’ is known to get in the way of what may be best for the series.

Brown added: “I would support them not getting a penalty. It’s unfortunate [that one team blocked a waiver]. But we know with Formula 1, [there is] a lot of self-interest from time to time. But I do think something like that is unique.

“So, I don’t know who it was. I can guess, probably, somebody who’s running in competition with them. But, yeah, a little unfortunate and a little bit unfair.”

Formula 1 and the Las Vegas GP organisers did not schedule a support series for this week’s event. Additionally, neither scheduled a pre-event test to check the Las Vegas Strip Circuit in racing conditions. Las Vegas sought to keep the iconic Strip in use outside of F1 sessions.