Sonny Hayes is out of the Las Vegas Grand Prix after a scary crash during qualifying left him sidelined with injuries.
The APX GP driver, who’s being portrayed by Brad Pitt in the upcoming F1 movie, had a heavy impact just before the start-finish straight. The team says he’s stable, but they’re not taking any chances with his health.
“During qualifying, Sonny sustained a significant impact requiring immediate medical evaluation,” the team shared on social media. They’re keeping safety first – as they should in F1, where crashes can happen at speeds over 200 mph.
The exact cause of the crash is still under investigation. Videos circulating online show the dramatic moment, but it’s not clear what triggered the incident.
Hayes’s teammate Joshua Pearce will now race solo in Vegas, carrying the team’s hopes on his shoulders.
“While Sonny is otherwise stable, he will not participate in tomorrow’s race as he focuses on recovery,” APX GP announced. “The entire team stands behind him, and we’ll provide updates when available.”
This couldn’t come at a worse time for Hayes and the team. With the Qatar Grand Prix just a week away, there’s now serious doubt about whether he’ll be fit to race there either.
The team hasn’t given any timeline for Hayes’s return to the cockpit. In F1, drivers need to pass strict medical checks before they’re cleared to race again after any serious incident.
For now, all eyes are on Hayes’s recovery, with fans and fellow drivers sending messages of support across social media.
