Is there anything more Carlos Sainz could’ve done during qualifying at the Las Vegas GP? Well, apart from qualifying in P1 instead of in P2. Coming into Vegas, Sainz was prepared for a challenging weekend, but even he wouldn’t have expected what was in store for him. Eight minutes into FP1 on Thursday—the first time ever that drivers drove the Las Vegas Street Circuit—the session was suspended. And it was because of F1, but Sainz paid the price.

Driving down the main straight, Carlos Sainz went over a broken drain cover (which shouldn’t have been broken in the first place). He damaged his SF-23’s engine, battery, and monocoque. Ferrari had no option but to change parts in his car, but in doing so, Sainz fell prey to FIA’s rulebook (because of FIA’s fault). But he’s also helped his case.

The Las Vegas GP qualifying didn’t do the trick for Carlos Sainz

One of the parts Ferrari changed was obviously Sainz’s battery. In doing so, he exceeded the accepted allocations for battery changes in a season. Guess what the FIA did? Gave him a 10-place grid penalty for its own fault. But the governing body was also following the rules, so who can blame it? Either way, Sainz wasn’t pleased.

Despite the 10-place grid penalty hanging over him, he executed a near-perfect qualifying. Ferrari had been looking good all weekend and was a contender for pole. The Scuderia ensured it made true on that prediction, and Charles Leclerc qualified in P1. Carlos Sainz was right behind him in P2. Given his penalty, he will start the race in P12. It was the damage control he needed to do, and he did it. Even so, he was disappointed about not getting the opportunity to start on the front row. 

In his post-qualifying interview, Sainz said, “I would love to be on pole because it would mean I would start eleventh instead of twelfth. But I think we did the maximum that we could today. Still disappointed from yesterday I’m not going to lie. I’m still in a very bad mood. I think the car has the pace, but it’s going to be difficult from P12.”

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The last time F1 had a night race on a street circuit, Sainz won it. It was at the Singapore GP earlier this year. As much as he would’ve liked to have the same advantage in Vegas, he’ll have to start out of position. But that’s not to say he doesn’t believe he can fight his way to the front.

Can Carlos Sainz do what Lando Norris did in Mexico?

At the Mexican GP, McLaren looked like it had the pace to fight among the front runners. But after an unfortunate qualifying, Lando Norris could only manage a P19. Due to a few penalties for drivers around him, the Brit started in P17. he maximized his MCL60’s potential, fought through the field, and finished in P5. he did this on a track that isn’t the best for overtaking. Carlos Sainz would hope he could do the same in Vegas.

The Las Vegas Street Circuit, as the name suggests, is a street circuit. Considering that, overtaking is already difficult. But F1 has never raced there before, so no one knows how it’ll really be. But knowing that he has the pace, Sainz hopes to make decent headway. He said, “I think the pace clearly looks like we have it this weekend. I would love to be fighting for the win tomorrow with Charles and Max, but unfortunately, I’m going to be on a comeback race. Hopefully, I can get to the front at some point and battle with them. But I think it’s going to be tricky.”

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What do you think Carlos Sainz can do from P12 on the grid during the main race?