Ferrari boss labels Carlos Sainz’s Las Vegas GP drain cover incident ‘unacceptable’،
LAS VEGAS – The incident that led to the cancellation of first practice for the Las Vegas Grand Prix was “unacceptable” for Formula 1, Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur said.
The opening session of the new $500 million F1 race lasted just eight minutes before Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari dislodged a sewer cover, causing significant damage to the underside of his car .
Alpine also confirmed that they will have to change the chassis on Esteban Ocon’s car, after passing the same point on track.
Ferrari has already confirmed that Sainz will not take part in the second test if it takes place, which has not yet been confirmed.
“What he said was I think it was on the [radio], ‘I hit something on the track’, he didn’t know exactly what it was. The situation is that we have completely damaged the monocoque, the engine, the batteries… and I think that is simply unacceptable,” Vasseur said.
“I’m not sure that’s the topic for me today. We had a very difficult FP1, it cost us a fortune, we screwed up the session for Carlos, we won’t make FP2 for sure , we have to change the chassis, half the car, to tune the car, ok, the show is the show and everything is going well but I think it’s just unacceptable for F1 today.”
The FIA hopes to hold a second 90-minute test session at 2:30 a.m., two and a half hours later than it would have been.
For this to happen, approximately 20 to 30 water valve covers along the strip must be fixed with quick-setting concrete. Nevada law prohibits them from being welded, which has been F1’s approach since a cover came loose under George Russell’s car during testing for the 2019 Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
The new Las Vegas race kicked off Wednesday with a grand opening ceremony, which drew mixed reactions from drivers.
Max Verstappen said after the event that the Vegas GP was 99% spectacle and 1% sport.
Vasseur rejected any suggestion that F1’s new event was not up to scratch from a safety perspective due to the focus on the event.
“I think they’re two separate things,” Vasseur said. “I don’t want to mix it up and say, sorry for the expression, that they did shit on the sporting side because they put on a show. That’s not true. We can put on a show and put on a show. good job on the sporting side.”
The incident was a farcical start to the most high-profile race in modern F1 history, albeit in a non-competitive session – qualifying will take place at midnight between Friday and Saturday.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff defended the event and said the setback was largely irrelevant in the grand scheme of things, referring to the later start times of the Las Vegas session schedule.
“It’s not a black eye, it’s nothing, it’s Thursday night, we have a free practice session which we’re not doing, they’re going to seal the sewer caps and no one will speak anymore of that tomorrow morning.”
When a reporter at the press conference seemed to openly disagree with Wolff’s statement that no one remembered the morning’s incident, he went on the attack.
“This is completely ridiculous, completely ridiculous, FP1, how can you even dare try to speak ill of an event that sets new standards, new standards for everything.
“You’re talking about a f—— drain cover that was undone, that’s already happened, it’s nothing, it’s FP1, give credit to the people who organized this big prizes, which have made this sport so important.” bigger than he ever was.
“Have you ever spoken well of someone and written a good word? You should. About all these people here, Liberty did a wonderful job, and just because in FP1, a drain cover came undone, we shouldn’t complain.
“The car is broken, it’s a real shame, for Carlos it could have been dangerous. Between the FIA and the track, everyone has to analyze how we can make sure this doesn’t happen again, but here we are talking about ‘a black eye for sport. on a Thursday night, no one watches it on European time anyway.’
