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The inaugural practice session at the Las Vegas Grand Prix was abruptly halted after only nine minutes due to an issue with a manhole cover on the track.
Carlos Sainz of Ferrari was forced to stop on the Strip, leading to the session’s suspension. Initially, Ferrari was unclear about the cause of the stoppage.
Esteban Ocon’s Alpine suffered chassis damage after encountering a problematic drain cover.
The FIA, motorsport’s governing body, announced an unspecified delay in the event, citing the need to inspect all manhole covers on the circuit for safety reasons.
A representative commented, “Upon inspection, it appears the concrete surrounding a manhole cover gave way. We now face the task of examining all manhole covers, which is expected to be time-consuming. Discussions are ongoing with the local engineering team regarding the timeframe needed for these checks, and any adjustments to the event schedule will be communicated accordingly.”
Alpine team is working on replacing Ocon’s car chassis due to the incurred damage.
This isn’t the first instance of drain covers causing disruptions in F1. Recall the 2019 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, where George Russell’s Williams was severely damaged after hitting a drain cover, leading to the cancellation of the first practice.
The second practice session in Las Vegas was scheduled to begin at 00:00 local time (08:00 UK).
Before the session was halted, drivers were in the early stages of getting acquainted with the track layout.
Charles Leclerc of Ferrari had already set a pace, leading the Haas drivers Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen by 2.5 seconds.
The event kicked off amidst the anticipated dazzling display of lights.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix Practice
What happened during the first practice at the F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix?
The first practice session at the F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix was halted after just nine minutes due to a problem with a manhole cover, leading to the suspension of the session and checks on all manhole covers around the track.
Why was Carlos Sainz of Ferrari stopped on the track?
Carlos Sainz of Ferrari was forced to stop on the track due to the issue with the manhole cover, which led to the suspension of the practice session.
What was the issue with the manhole cover at the F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix?
The concrete frame around a manhole cover failed, necessitating a thorough check of all manhole covers on the track for safety reasons.
How did the manhole cover issue affect Esteban Ocon’s Alpine?
Esteban Ocon’s Alpine suffered chassis damage after running over the problematic drain cover, prompting the team to replace his car’s chassis.
Has a similar incident happened before in F1?
Yes, a similar incident occurred at the 2019 Azerbaijan Grand Prix where George Russell’s Williams was severely damaged after hitting a drain cover, resulting in the cancellation of the first practice session.
More about F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix Practice
- F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix Schedule
- Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari Incident
- Esteban Ocon’s Alpine Chassis Damage
- FIA’s Response to Manhole Cover Issue
- 2019 Azerbaijan Grand Prix Incident
- F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix Second Practice Update
- Charles Leclerc’s Performance at Las Vegas GP
6 comments
wow, another manhole cover issue? seems like F1 needs to check these things more often, remember Baku 2019? that was crazy
classic F1, startin with a bang and not the good kind…at least Leclerc is showing some solid pace early on
Alpine changing Ocon’s chassis already? that’s gotta hurt the budget, hope it doesn’t affect their performance too much
so frustrating for Sainz, he was just getting into the groove and then this happens? smh
does anyone know if the second practice is still on? can’t find any updates
first time in Vegas and this happens, talk about bad luck lol but hey, the light show was pretty cool tho