Toro Rosso driver Carlos Sainz is passed fit to race in the Russian Grand Prix, despite being involved in a serious crash on Saturday during practice.
Advertisement
The 21-year-old Spaniard was taken to hospital in Sochi after smashing into barriers at Turn 13, approached at 200mph, but was released on Saturday.
Sainz gave spectators the thumbs up as he was lifted into the back of the waiting ambulance, and has since posted pictures and videos to social media from his hospital bed.
Toro Rosso team principal Franz Tost spoke to Sky Sports F1 shortly after the incident.
With confirmation he was conscious and talking, Sainz was then flown on to a hospital for further medical checks.
Although Sainz escaped injury, the TecPro barriers that were supposed to absorb the impact of Carlos Sainz, the barriers failed, shifted up, and caused the Toro Rosso to submarine and strike the Armco behind as well.
“If we’re going to race in new tracks where they don’t have so much experience in racing, they need to think about bringing marshals from other races so they know what to do in a quick way”. We found a good balance on my auto, thanks to my engineers as well.
“I’m OK, I’m fine, just a bit sore from the accident on the back and the neck, but totally ready to see what happens”, said the Spaniard. “I am not an expert in this but I am convinced the FIA will find a good solution for this”.
Jenson Button said there was nothing that could be done for today’s race but driver’s expected swift action and an inquiry before the next round in Austin in a fortnight.
Nico Rosberg starts on pole in Sochi ahead of Lewis Hamilton, who leads his Mercedes team-mate by 48 points in the title race.
Sainz said he is completely unhurt after undergoing several tests, having never lost consciousness in the crash.
Sainz lost control of his vehicle on a high-speed stretch heading into a steep right-hand corner, before scraping along the wall and crashing head on into the barriers.
With Sainz unlikely to recover in time for the qualifying later in the day, STR will have only one driver left in the race.
Advertisement
The German manufacturer’s engines powered the top six on the timesheets, with Valtteri Bottas second for Williams and Force India’s Sergio Perez and Nico Hulkenberg fourth and sixth, while Brazilian Felipe Massa was fifth for Williams.
