Las Vegas F1: Carlos Sainz, Esteban Ocon cars damaged when manhole cover comes loose
A furious Ferrari boss has slammed the track drama in Las Vegas, labelling it “unacceptable” and declaring the damage caused by a loose manhole would cost the team “a fortune”. WATCH the sparks fly in crazy vision.
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Formula One’s debut foray into Las Vegas has plunged into chaos with the first practice session abandoned due to a track damage that could take the rest of the day to repair.
A manhole cover on the main straight, part of the infamous Las Vegas strip, came loose and then caused damage to two cars including Carlos Sainz in his Ferrari and Esteban Ocon’s Alpine.
Sky Sports expert Martin Brundle said the track damage was a major issue and raises questions about F1’s ability to get back on for the second practice session later on Friday night (Australian time).
“Fixing that, checking everything else, fixing that and letting it dry and making sure it won’t come out again is a big job,” Brundle said.
“If that is on the strip – it is halfway down to turn 14 – that is a very, very big issue.
“They need to check if there are other areas like that around that track.”
The moment Carlos Sainz hit a drain cover on the Las Vegas strip, causing FP1 to be cancelled 👀 pic.twitter.com/KIMbuZoteY
— ESPN F1 (@ESPNF1) November 17, 2023
Disaster in Vegas https://t.co/w6abpG41Egpic.twitter.com/oScV4ncPvC
— Emily Benammar (@EmilyBenammar) November 17, 2023
The big concern for all F1 teams is that the low ride height of the cars with their downforce means they must check every drain cover on the circuit to risk further issues.
“It is more than likely the same one,” former champion Jenson Button said.
“Concrete sets reasonably quickly, but not that quickly if they have to reset every drain cover.”
Red Bull boss Christian Horner said it looks like the FIA will want to repair all manholes on the circuit before they can resume racing.
“It’s a shame we’re not allowed on track running. I think there is a problem with the frame around the manhole there. They need to check all of the others and probably weld them,” Horner said.
“You can see the damage that has been done to the Ferrari.
“They need to check them all to make sure it is safe to run.
“Given the speed these guys run, they have to make sure it is safe.
“It’s a shame for the fans who have come out to see the guys running, but we have to get this right.”
Nothing like the streets of Las Vegas ruining a $16M car moments into the first practice session #LasVegasGPpic.twitter.com/tqJWE0zv1I
— robert (@rcneumann) November 17, 2023
“Following inspection, it was the concrete frame around a manhole cover that has failed. We now need to check all of the other manhole covers which will take some time,” the International Motoring Federation (FIA) said in a statement.
“We will be discussing with the local circuit engineering team about the length of time it will take to resolve and will update with any resultant changes to the schedule.”
Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur, clearly angry and using profanity in a news conference, there was no chance of Sainz taking part in the second session.
“We damaged completely the monocoque, the engine, the battery. I think it’s just unacceptable,” he said.
“It cost us a fortune. We won’t be part of FP2 for sure. I think it’s just unacceptable for F1 today,” he added.
Mercedes team chief Toto Wolff reacted with fury to a question from a reporter about whether the incident was a “black eye” for the sport’s organisers.
“That is not a black eye, this is nothing. We are on Thursday night, we have a FP1 that we are not doing, they are going to seal the rain covers and nobody is going to talk about that anymore tomorrow morning,” said the German.
“It’s completely ridiculous. How can you even dare trying to talk bad about an event that sets new standards in everything. You are talking about a drain over that has been undone, that has happened before and is nothing,” he said.
“Between the FIA and the track everybody needs to analyze how we can make sure this doesn’t happen again but talking about a black-eye for the sport on a Thursday evening, nobody watches that in European time anyway,” he added.
Esteban Ocon’s Alpine also suffered damage and the team were forced to begin changing the chassis on his car.
A similar incident occurred at the 2019 Azerbaijan Grand Prix when George Russell, then racing for Williams, had his car hit by a loose manhole cover and the first practice session was cancelled.
Thursday’s opening practice was the first time the new circuit had been raced upon.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc had posted the fastest lap with a time of 1:40.909.
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Originally published as Las Vegas F1: Carlos Sainz, Esteban Ocon cars damaged when manhole cover comes loose
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