Las Vegas GP: Carlos Sainz manhole incident 'unacceptable for F1', says Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur

ByRob Hemingway

Updated 17/11/2023 at 09:34 GMT

After all the show came a devastating blow to the Las Vegas GP, as the first practice session was stopped after just nine minutes following incidents involving the Ferrari of Carlos Sainz and the Alpine of Esteban Ocon. Scuderia boss Fred Vasseur said that the damage sustained to Sainz's car would "cost a fortune" to repair, as he rounded on what he called an "unacceptable" circumstance.

Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur has labelled the incident that saw his driver Carlos Sainz forced out of FP1 at the Las Vegas GP as "unacceptable for F1".

The event's first sight of F1 cars on track was aborted after just nine minutes with Sainz's car suffering damage from a dislodged manhole cover.

Alpine's Esteban Ocon experienced the same issue, as the extensive preparations for this new race on the F1 calendar came to nought.

Italian Grand Prix

'Tomorrow I’m going to give it everything' – Sainz takes pole ahead of Verstappen

02/09/2023 at 18:06

Speaking in the team principal briefing alongside the likes of Mercedes' Toto Wolff, Vasseur said: "He [Sainz] said 'I hit something on track' and he didn't know exactly what it was.

"The situation is that we damaged completely the monocoque, the engine, the battery.

"We had a very tough FP1. This will cost us a fortune. We f***** up the session for Carlos. We won’t be part of FP2 for sure, we have to change the chassis and two-thirds of the car.

"OK, the show is the show and everything is going well, but I think it’s just unacceptable for F1 today."

For their part, F1 released a statement on social media clarifying the situation.

It read: "Following an FIA inspection, it was found a concrete frame around a manhole cover had failed during FP1.

"The FIA are commencing checks on all other covers across the circuit. Any changes to scheduling will be advised in due course."

A later social media post from F1 confirmed the latest around FP2.

"Practice 2 is expected to commence at 2am local time in Las Vegas (10am UK time on Friday).

"This is subject to local circuit engineering team completing the necessary works on the track.

Wolff says Vegas GP can 'provide great racing'

"The session will be extended to 90 minutes."

Examining the reason for the manhole covers lifting off the track, Williams principal James Vowles speculated that it was likely down to the "huge amounts of suction" that F1 cars can generate.

Vasseur is not the only voice to have been critical of the Vegas GP, with champion-elect Max Verstappen saying earlier in the week that it is "99% show and 1% sporting event”.

Adding on the track's layout - before the FP1 chaos - Verstappen said: "I don’t think it’s that exciting.

"For me a street circuit is not that exciting, especially with these new cars, they are just too heavy. When you have low grip that doesn’t help.

"The scenery will look great, driving through the Strip, but the layout itself is not the most exciting."

Austrian Grand Prix

Hamilton among eight drivers handed post-race penalties

02/07/2023 at 20:38

Mexican Grand Prix

Leclerc unhurt after a severe crash during practice for the Mexican Grand Prix

29/10/2022 at 07:59

Japanese Grand Prix

Verstappen quickest at Suzuka as Leclerc misses out by 0.01s, keeps pole despite reprimand

08/10/2022 at 08:53