A significant mishap has halted Formula One practice sessions.
The third practice run for the Formula 1 event in Zandvoort took a turn for the worse with an accident involving Logan Sargeant from the States. His Williams veered off course, slid onto the wet grass at the first chicane, and smashed into the track barrier, resulting in a fire. Despite the severe circumstances, Sargeant emerged unscathed, signaling safety to the pits before exiting his burning vehicle. The accident, however, resulted in a lengthy cleanup, leading to a 44-minute delay and rendering the session's results irrelevant.
Sargeant, who's been under the microscope due to his subpar performances at Williams, lost control of his car after going off track. The impact was substantial enough to cause the vehicle to hit the barrier sideways and ignite. Thankfully, Sargeant communicated a swift all-clear to the pits before vacating the vehicle. Given the extent of the damage, it seems unlikely that Sargeant will be able to compete in the qualifying rounds. Whether he'll race on Sunday remains uncertain.
Only ten drivers, including Sargeant, took to the track before the high-impact incident. The session resumed at 12:28, allowing drivers a meager two minutes to complete at least one lap. Pierre Gasly from France, driving for Alpine, recorded the fastest lap in 1:20.311 minutes, with Kevin Magnussen from Denmark, racing for Haas, and Valtteri Bottas from Finland, representing Alfa Romeo, following closely behind. This unusual order could be a rare sight in a typical session.
Max Verstappen, the defending champion from the Netherlands, racing for Red Bull, received a warning for his aggressive move at the pit lane exit. Finishing in 17th place, Verstappen expressed frustration rather than gaining confidence for the qualifying rounds. Prior to the session, Verstappen voiced concerns about his car's speed, lamenting that Red Bull was once again lagging behind.
After the delay due to Sargeant's accident, Verstappen returned to the track and finished his practice run. Max Verstappen, who is here for the event, voiced concerns about his car's speed before the session.
