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Las Vegas Grand Prix marred by manhole cover incidents, Ferrari's Sainz, Alpine's Ocon affected

Posted : 17 November 2023
Ferrari team boss Frederic Vasseur expressed strong dissatisfaction with the issues surrounding manhole covers at the Las Vegas Grand Prix track, deeming them "just unacceptable." The first practice session was abruptly canceled after Carlos Sainz collided with a loose manhole cover within the initial nine minutes. Esteban Ocon encountered a similar incident, resulting in damage to his Alpine, leading to the session being prematurely halted.
 
Vasseur disclosed the extent of the damage to Sainz's car, indicating a damaged chassis, engine, and battery, forcing the Ferrari driver to miss the second practice session. Highlighting the disparity between the event's grandeur and the sporting challenges, Vasseur emphasized the need to separate the show from the sporting aspect, insisting on maintaining high standards on both fronts.
 
Despite the FIA's prior inspection and approval of the track's fitness for racing, an indefinite delay was announced as a precautionary measure to check all manhole covers around the circuit. The Las Vegas Grand Prix, orchestrated by F1 acting as its promoter, has seen substantial investments, with over £500m spent on preparations, including constructing the largest pit building on the F1 calendar.
 
Zak Brown, McLaren Racing CEO, defended the event's meticulous planning, attributing the manhole cover incidents to a mistake rather than corners being cut. Meanwhile, Williams team boss James Vowles pointed out the unexpected forces modern F1 cars generate, potentially causing unforeseen incidents like the detachment of the drain cover.
 
This incident echoed a similar occurrence in the 2019 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, where George Russell's Williams was damaged due to a loose drain cover, resulting in the cancellation of the first practice session.
 

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