F1 News: Adrian Newey Points Fingers Amid Bahrain Drain Cover Worries

Red Bull chief technical officer Adrian Newey claims the current cars are "too heavy".

In the wake of recurrent drain cover incidents at the Bahrain International Circuit, Adrian Newey has offered an explanation. Speaking with Auto Motor und Sport, he attributed the problem to the cars' size and weight.

Key Takeaways:

• The Bahrain International Circuit faced disruptions during pre-season testing due to a loose drain cover.
• Sergio Perez's encounter with the drain cover this morning led to a red-flag and immediate rectification efforts.
• This issue, reminiscent of a similar incident involving Charles Leclerc yesterday, highlights a repeated challenge at the venue.

The Formula 1 pre-season testing in Bahrain was once again overshadowed by the issue of loose drain covers, raising concerns about the circuit's infrastructure and its implications for the sport's safety standards and scheduling. The latest incident occurred within the first 40 minutes of Friday's session, when Sergio Perez came across a dislodged drain cover near Turn 11, prompting officials to halt the session to undertake necessary repairs.

This problem isn't new to the Bahrain International Circuit, reflecting a similar predicament from the previous day's testing, where Charles Leclerc's Ferrari was compromised by another loose cover. The repetition of such incidents has sparked a dialogue within the F1 community about the suitability of current track infrastructures in accommodating the ever-evolving F1 machinery, with similar situations reported in other circuits like Las Vegas.

Adrian Newey, in his conversation with Auto Motor und Sport, pinpointed the core of the issue, stating: 

"The cars are too big and too heavy. That's why this keeps happening." 

🚨 Adrian Newey spoke to #AMuS regarding the reoccurring problem of drain covers getting loose:

"The cars are too big and too heavy. That's why this keeps happening."

— RBR Daily (@RBR_Daily) February 23, 2024

The final day of pre-season testing has now resumed and will continue until 7pm local time (4pm GMT) without a lunch break to give teams as much time as possible ahead of the season opening Grand Prix next week. 

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