IMAGO / PanoramiC
MIAMI — One name was missing from Saturday’s qualifying session: Esteban Ocon.
The Alpine driver had crashed into the concrete barrier at Turn 13 during practice earlier that day, suffering a 51G impact. Although the driver was okay, he had to be taken to the medical center due to the force triggering the impact warning light. His car ended up with a cracked chassis. Ocon had to miss qualifying because of it.
But, there may have been a way for the damage to be less.
A day earlier, Carlos Sainz crashed in the same location during another practice session, and Ocon revealed to Autosport that the Ferrari driver mentioned the matter during the driver’s briefing and asked why there was not a tecpro barrier in the turn.