In an unfortunate twist of fate, Carlos Sainz Jr.'s first whirl on the brand-new Las Vegas Grand Prix circuit was anything but smooth. ๐๏ธ
Just eight minutes in, his Ferrari decided to inhale a manhole cover, resulting in damage not just to his car but also to Esteban Oconโs Alpine F1. The unexpected kerfuffle brought the practice session to an early end. ๐
The real kicker? Sainz faces a steep 10-place grid penalty on race day due to a necessary power unit swap, courtesy of the rebellious drainage cover. Despite the stewards feeling a bit sympathetic about his unusual predicament, the rules arenโt leaving them any wiggle room.