Other drivers also expressed worries following two separate incidents that brought back memories of a previous occurrence that resulted in significant damage to Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari during last year’s Las Vegas Grand Prix. Verstappen, who is aiming for his fourth consecutive championship this season, expressed concerns that the current high-downforce cars are increasing the likelihood of such incidents due to the suction created by their aerodynamics. He suggested that these incidents could be prevented by conducting thorough checks before driving on tracks that are not frequently used by other cars, especially in terms of examining the stability of drain covers. Verstappen emphasized that these incidents are particularly undesirable considering the budget cap in place. The damage caused by the Las Vegas incident to Sainz’s Ferrari was extensive, leading to irreparable harm to the survival cell, engine, energy store, and control electronics. The team is still awaiting an insurance claim, and such incidents can have a significant financial impact on teams operating under tight financial constraints. Leclerc from Ferrari acknowledged the seriousness of the issue and called for measures to prevent its recurrence. He expressed gratitude that the incident in Bahrain did not have the same severity as the one in Vegas, but emphasized the need for finding the best solution to address this concern. Hamilton, the seven-time world champion from Mercedes, also expressed his worry about the stoppages caused by drain covers and hoped that the FIA, the governing body, was taking appropriate action. He suggested that the drain covers should be securely welded well in advance of the races to prevent such incidents. The first race of the season will take place at the Sakhir circuit on March 2. (Reporting by Alan Baldwin)
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