Toto Wolff has criticized the FIA for the controversial penalty imposed on Carlos Sainz during the 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix. Wolff deems the penalty, a 10-place grid drop, as “completely unfair” and is urging a reevaluation of regulations pertaining to force majeure incidents. The penalty stemmed from Sainz running over a loose water valve cover in FP1, causing extensive damage to his Ferrari.
Despite the stewards acknowledging the undesirability of the penalty, they cited the absence of a provision in current regulations for an exemption, leading to a call for a review of the sport’s rulebook.
Wolff emphasized the need to reconsider rules regarding force majeure, questioning the fairness of penalties in situations like kerb strikes, cold tire incidents, or collisions where the affected driver is blameless.
He expressed sympathy for Sainz, asserting that the penalty was unjust and marred what could have been a successful race weekend for the Spanish driver. Wolff had initially refrained from public criticism but now calls for a thorough examination and potential revisions to prevent such situations in the future.
Despite the setback, Sainz managed to qualify on the front row and finished in P6, mitigating some of the damage to his championship standings, ultimately concluding the season in seventh place.