MONZA, Italy – Carlos Sainz crashed his Ferrari heavily in final practice for the team’s home Italian Grand Prix as seven-times Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton was fastest for Mercedes.
The Spaniard halted the session when he smashed head-on into the barriers at the Ascari chicane with just over half an hour remaining.
“I had a massive crash,” he said over the radio according to Reuters. “That hurt a bit but I’m OK.”
Sainz, who also crashed in the practice at last weekend’s Dutch Grand Prix, was taken to the medical centre and the session resumed with some 20 minutes left.
The stricken Ferrari was returned to the pitlane, with the mechanics facing a race against time to get it ready for the afternoon’s sprint which sets the grid for the grand prix at the fastest circuit on the calendar.
FIA race director Michael Masi said Sainz had been given preliminary clearance but would have another check before the sprint.
He had qualified seventh fastest Friday with the sprint awarding points to the top three. The experimental format is being tried out for the second time after a debut at Silverstone in July.
Hamilton’s time of one minute 23.246 was 0.222 quicker than Finnish team mate Valtteri Bottas, who qualified fastest Friday.
Red Bull’s championship leader Max Verstappen was third quickest, 0.416 slower than Hamilton, with team mate Sergio Perez fourth.
Mercedes have indicated they will tell Bottas to let Hamilton pass in the sprint race, given the championship situation, if circumstances allow.
Elsewhere, the 2021 MotoGP season will have a total of 18 races and no more events will be added after organisers said that the Argentine Grand Prix has been cancelled for a second year running due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The race in Argentina was initially postponed until the final quarter of 2021 but now joins the Grands Prix in Australia, Thailand, Japan and Finland on the list of events cancelled this year due to travel restrictions.
“The FIM, IRTA and Dorna Sports therefore regret to confirm the cancellation of the Gran Premio de la Republica Argentina due to force majeure,” organisers said in a statement.
“The event was previously postponed, but the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, logistical restrictions and prior infrastructure damage have obliged the cancellation.”
Misano, which is set to host a Grand Prix from Sept. 17-19, will stage a second one from Oct. 22-24 that will be called the “Made in Italy and Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix”.
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