Carlos Sainz was the victim of the broken drainpipe. © APA/afp / ANGELA WEISS

Trouble over drainpipe: Formula 1 slowed down in Las Vegas

The Formula 1 cars race through Las Vegas for just eight minutes. Then a drain pipe ensures that the first training session is aborted. The Ferrari and Mercedes team bosses are angry.

17 November 2023

From: dpa/sn

A single defective drain pipe caused the highly anticipated Formula 1 opening training session to be canceled in Las Vegas. This was announced by the organizer of the Grand Prix after a track inspection by the motorsport premier class and the world motorsport association Fia. “The FIA, Formula 1 and the circuit’s engineering teams are actively working to check and resolve the problem.” An adjusted schedule should be announced as soon as possible.

The opening training session for Formula 1 in Las Vegas was canceled after just 19 minutes. Carlos Sainz stopped his Ferrari just eight minutes after the start of the first session on the world-famous Las Vegas Boulevard after his car jumped over an obstacle and was shaken when it landed.

During a subsequent inspection on the so-called strip, it was discovered, according to the world motorsport association, that the concrete frame around a sewer shaft had failed. It was said that “all other manhole covers” now have to be checked, which will take some time. After the incident in front of the luxury hotel Bellagio, pictures showed how a marshal leaned over the narrow hole in the asphalt after the manhole cover had been removed.

Ferrari boss angry: “Unacceptable”

The damage to the chassis and drive of Sainz's car will "cost a fortune," complained Ferrari team boss Frederic Vasseur. “We messed up the session for Carlos. We definitely won't be there in FP2 (second free practice). That is simply unacceptable for Formula 1 today.” Questions about damage to the image of the premier motorsport class angered Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff. “We’re talking about a damn manhole cover in the first free practice session,” complained Wolff. “Give some credit to the people who make this event possible.”

Ferrari boss Vasseur wasn't very happy. © APA / DAN ISTITENE

For Formula 1, this is a botched sporting start in the gambling metropolis. The Grand Prix in Las Vegas is the prestige project of the rights holder Liberty Media, with which they want to continue to grow in the US market. Normally the opening training lasts an hour. The second training session is scheduled for Friday (9.00:7.00 a.m. CET). The penultimate race of the season is scheduled for Sunday (XNUMX a.m. CET).