F1 cancels Las Vegas Grand Prix training and kicks out fans
Formula 1 had to cancel the first practice session for Thursday night's Las Vegas Grand Prix, just eight minutes before it started at 11:30 p.m. The culprit was a loose manhole cover on the track, which was sucked up by Carlos Sainz's $15 million Ferrari, causing extensive damage to the race floor.
Formula One's governing body, the FIA (International Automobile Federation), determined that the concrete frame surrounding the manhole cover had failed.
The incident raised a red flag, with marshals removing Sainz's damaged F1 car and the team frantically checking every frame on the 3.8-mile track.
According to F1.com, Sainz was penalized 10 places back after damage forced him to install new powertrain components.
Alpine's Esteban Ocon, who finished fifth in the shortened race, also reported hitting a manhole cover and required a chassis change.
Fans were kicked out
All necessary repairs to the track are on track for the second practice session to begin at 3am on Friday. But after a two-hour wait, fans were kicked out of their seats at 1:30 a.m.
Given the late hour and the logistical concerns for the safe movement of fans and staff outside the track, the LVGP has made the difficult decision to close the fan zone ahead of the start of Free Practice 2,” F1 wrote in a statement.
Sainz's car was repaired in time for him to compete in the second race in front of empty stands. He was 0.517 seconds ahead of teammate Charles Leclerc.
Max Verstappen, favorite to win Saturday's main event, finished sixth.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff played down the incident, telling reporters "it's happened before and it's nothing", while McLaren boss Zak Brown said he didn't believe "there was anything shortcut".
Meanwhile, Ferrari team boss Frederic Vasseur called the situation "simply unacceptable".
Read also:
- Football 101: What is relegation in football?
- Cincinnati Bengals without quarterback Joe Burrow due to injury
- Caesars previews fourth-quarter results, expects EBITDA, revenue to miss expectations
- Las Vegas could be an Atari-themed casino resort
Source: www.casino.org
