- Carlos Sainz may have to sit out second practice after going over a loose drain
- The first practice session was called off after eight minutes after the incident
- Damage was also done to the chassis of Esteban Ocon’s Alpine by the drain
Ferrari chief Fred Vasseur claims that the drain cover which has put Carlos Sainz’s place in second practice under threat is ‘unacceptable’ in Formula One, after the first session was called off after just eight minutes.Â
Las Vegas has waited over 40 years to host a race on the F1 circuit, but after a spectacular opening ceremony filled with glitz and glamour, the opening practice session was called to an abrupt halt.Â
Spanish driver Sainz’s SF-23 was put out of action after going over a loose drain cover on the street circuit, causing huge damage to the underside of his car.Â
As such, the practice session ground to a halt in a nightmare start to the weekend, and was later cancelled entirely as a result.Â
Pictures emerged showing the ruined underbelly of his car, with several pieces of debris that were ripped from his car as a result of the collision, which understandably left team principal Vasseur seething.Â
Ferrari chief Fred Vasseur was fuming at the ‘unacceptable’ incident that damaged one of his cars
Carlos Sainz was ruled out of the second free practice session after going over a loose drain cover
Attempts were later made to fill in the drainage cover and rectify the damage already caused
‘We had a very tough FP1, this will cost us a fortune,’ he revealed when quizzed on the session.
‘We f***ed 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.’
As Sainz went over the offending drain, sparks were sent flying from the base of his car as the damage was done.Â
Vasseur hinted that the Italian outfit could be looking at some costly repairs to get Sainz’s car back in action for the rest of the weekend.Â
He also claimed that the car had a damaged chassis, engine and battery.
It was unfortunate timing for the race organisers, with the Las Vegas GP so highly-anticipated – especially after the show put on for the opening ceremony before the first session.Â
‘The show is mega and I am very happy with what [F1 owners] Liberty [Media] did around the race but we have to separate the show and the sporting side,’ added Vasseur.
‘The opening ceremony was something mega in F1 but it is not because you are doing this that you don’t have to do the job on the sporting side. You can do the show and do a good job on the sporting side.’
Sparks flew from the base of Sainz’s car as he went over the offending drainage cover
Pictures of the debris that came from Sainz’s SF-23 emerged highlighting the damage doneÂ
Sainz’s car was lifted from the track onto the back of a lorry to be taken back to the Ferrari garage
Only five laps were completed in front of the crowds in Vegas before things were haltedÂ
The roads were scheduled to be reopened to the public in Vegas around the sessionsÂ
The crew for Alpine check Esteban Ocon’s chassis for possible damage from the cover
Organisers face a race against time as they seek to rectify the issue before the roads reopen to the public at 4am PST.Â
Failure to do so could only compound the chaos, with early morning commuters caught in the confusion.Â
A statement from Formula One read:Â ‘Practice 2 is expected to commence at 2am local time in Las Vegas. This is subject to local circuit engineering team completing the necessary works on the track. The session will be extended to 90 minutes.’Â Â
Sainz was not the only one impacted by the drain cover, with Alpine’s Esteban Ocon also picking up damage and needing repairs to his chassis. Â
