The Haas F1 Team is currently discussing the FP2 drain cover incident with the management of the Sepang International Circuit, in an attempt to get compensation for the damage that was incurred by the accident. It’s been reported that the circuit officials may be working with the insurance company to fulfill the request.
The incident in question occurred near the end of the second free practice session on Friday for the Malaysian Grand Prix. Romain Grosjean was the victim of a freak accident at turn 13 of the circuit near the end of the session when he ran over a drain coverage that had been dislodged by the Mercedes of Valtteri Bottas. The incident caused a right rear tyre puncture and sent the car spinning into the barriers. While Grosjean escaped the crash uninjured, the same could not be said about the car.
Estimates place the damage at around £500,000, which includes irreparable damage to the floor and front wing of the car. This is a rather large sum of money for an incident which Haas had no control over.
The FIA determined that the welding holding the drain in place either failed or was not done properly, allowing the drain to come loose from the turbulent air from the Mercedes car. The FP2 session was ended after the incident, the circuit was given another inspection overnight and FP3 went on as scheduled Saturday morning.
“What happened to him should not happen,” explained the team principal of Haas, Guenther Steiner, on Friday. “Drain covers coming up at F1 circuits is just not acceptable in the year 2017. Let’s see what the authorities have to say to that and to explain that it doesn’t happen again.”
The management of the circuit is believed to be cooperating with Haas on the issue and further talks are expected to take place throughout the week.
