The Las Vegas GP, expected to be a spectacular addition to the F1 calendar, turned unexpectedly dramatic during its first practice session, featuring Carlos Sainz and his Ferrari. Sainz, in the heart of the action, faced an abrupt halt to his practice session due to a surprising and unusual incident on track.

Just seven minutes into the session, the drama unfolded. Sainz’s Ferrari came to a sudden stop on the main straight, leading to the waving of a red flag. The reason? A shattered drain cover that wreaked havoc on the floor of his car. This incident caused Sainz to bottom out on a bump, resulting in a groan of pain from the driver himself and an immediate instruction from the team to shut off the engine. The damage was extensive. Sainz’s Ferrari was returned to the pits with a shattered floor, and potentially compromised front suspension.

Toto Wolff defends the Las Vegas GP

In the aftermath, Frederic Vasseur, frustrated, expressed his discontent to the media. He said, “We completely damaged the monocoque, the engine, the battery. I think it’s just unacceptable,” highlighting the severity of the incident, and its implications for the team and others at large. It was later confirmed by the FIA ​​​​that the concrete frame around a manhole cover, which was not properly attached, had failed, leading to the damage to Sainz’s car. This incident raised significant safety concerns, prompting the FIA ​​to call off the session after their technical team assessed the car.

However, amid the neon lights (and the shortcomings) of Vegas, Toto Wolff‘s words have cut through the noise like an open wheel slicing through the air. “They’re going to seal the drain covers and nobody’s going to talk about that tomorrow morning anymore. It’s completely ridiculous. Completely ridiculous. FP1, how can you even dare to try to talk bad about an event that sets new standards, new standards to everything?”

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“And then you’re speaking about a f****** drain cover that’s been undone, that has happened before. That’s nothing. Give credit to the people that have set up this Grand Prix, that have made this sport much bigger than it ever was,” he said, his frustration as palpable as the heat from a car’s exhaust after a qualifying lap.

Remains to the wishes of the F1 gods, if this is a major setback moment for the Las Vegas GP or if Wolff’s comments carry weight.

Carlos Sainz Yet Again Sours at F1 as Las Vegas GP Poses “Weird” Challenge

As the drama unfolded, various team principals weighed in, each offering a unique perspective on the situation.

F1 community responds to the manhole incident at Las Vegas GP

Christian Horner TP of Red Bull recognized the frustration of fans but emphasized the need for safety. “They are going to have to check all the manhole covers, weld them, or do something because you can see the damage it’s done,” Horner remarked. He stressed the importance of prioritizing safety despite the inconvenience to fans.

Zak Brown TP of McLaren, while acknowledging the unfortunate start, chose to focus on the broader picture. He highlighted the significant attention the sport was receiving and the efforts by Liberty Media to elevate F1. “Lots of fans, lots of attention on this sport as a whole and I think it’s Liberty [Media] taking the sport to yet another level,” Brown said, emphasizing the event’s impact despite the initial setbacks.

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These responses reflect the complex balance between ensuring safety and acknowledging the significant investment and excitement surrounding such high-profile F1 events.