F1 cancels first practice in Las Vegas due to loose drain cover on track

LAS VEGAS — The $500 billion Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix began in ridiculous circumstances when a loose drain cover caused the abandonment of the first practice session.

Just eight minutes into the session, Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari stopped on track, triggering a red flag.

It is understood the Spaniard drove over a loose drain cover on the road, causing damage to the underside of his car.

Due to an obvious safety risk, and because the timer in a practice session does not stop during a red flag, the time it would take to repair the drain cover meant that the session was canceled.

Alpine also confirmed that it will have to change the chassis of Esteban Ocon’s car due to damage at the same location on the circuit.

“Following inspection by Formula 1 and the FIA, a single water valve cover at the Las Vegas Grand Prix circuit failed during the first practice session,” F1 and Las Vegas Grand said Price, Inc. in a joint statement.

“The FIA, F1 and local circuit engineering teams are actively working to investigate and resolve the issue.”

F1 hopes to hold a second test session at 2:30 a.m. local time, two and a half hours later than scheduled.

It will be extended by 60 to 90 minutes to make up for lost time.

For this revised session to take place, the ruling FIA must check each of the water valve covers along the strip, which represents 1.3 miles of the circuit, and secure them with quick-setting concrete.

It’s a nightmare start to the controversial F1 race, which the sport spent $500 million on in a rare deal that sees it become the event’s promoter.

After annoying the locals with the construction of the circuit, this is one of the worst results F1 could have had.

A similar incident occurred ahead of the 2019 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, when George Russell’s Williams was damaged by a loose manhole cover.