Sainz’s Early Exit Leaves Ferrari Mechanics with Four Hours to Repair SF24 for Brazilian GP
Ferrari is in scramble mode as it faces a major repair challenge after Carlos Sainz crashed out of Q2 in a wet and wild qualifying session for the São Paulo Grand Prix. Fresh off a victory in Mexico, Sainz had high hopes of a strong showing at Interlagos, but a slick track and a momentary loss of control sent his SF24 spinning into the barriers, leaving Ferrari mechanics with limited time to rebuild his car.
Qualifying, initially delayed by heavy rain, finally resumed on Sunday morning, but conditions remained tricky. As drivers switched to intermediate tires in Q2, they encountered a treacherous balance between speed and grip. Sainz, gunning for a Q3 slot, attempted a quick throttle tap at Turn 2’s apex, only to see his Ferrari snap out of control. The resulting crash brought out the red flags, with severe damage to the rear of his car.
Ferrari now faces a race against time, with just four hours to repair the SF24 before lights out at 12:30 local time, a deadline pushed forward due to rain threats. The time crunch leaves Ferrari’s crew with an immense challenge, as Sainz’s hopes hinge on their ability to deliver rapid repairs.
After a brief pause, Q2 resumed but was soon halted again by Lance Stroll’s crash, marking the second red flag of the session. The premature end stranded both Red Bull drivers, Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez, outside the top 10, turning this weekend’s Brazilian GP into an unexpected showdown full of last-minute drama.
As Ferrari’s team scrambles, all eyes will be on whether Sainz can take to the grid and recover from the costly Q2 mishap in what promises to be an action-packed Grand Prix.
