2023-11-17 19:10:04
The Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix had an embarrassing start on Thursday night (11/17/2023) with the cancellation of the first free practice sessions, following just nine minutes, due to a problem with a track sewer that also delayed the second. session.
In addition to the repairs, the organizers undertook a safety review on this new night circuit that led to a delay of two and a half hours in the start of the second tests, dominated by Ferrari drivers Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz Jr.
These training sessions, which were scheduled for midnight local time, began at 2:30 in the morning with a time extended to 90 minutes and with the stands empty since the fans, who had waited several hours, were evacuated before the start. return of the cars.
All these unforeseen events marred the expected return of Formula 1 to Las Vegas (Nevada), following the 1981 and 1982 races, which was presented as an enormous spectacle in the heart of the emblematic Strip, the great avenue of casinos, and in front of the new and gigantic Sphere.
The problems on the new 6.2 kilometer circuit, which required months of works that made traffic difficult for residents and thousands of workers in the hotel sector, began a few minutes following the start of the first rehearsal.
Spanish driver Carlos Sainz Jr. had to stop his practice following his Ferrari suffered a severe blow when jumping over a manhole cover, causing damage to the front of the vehicle and the appearance of an early red flag.
Organizers later announced that, for safety reasons, the first of the night’s two sessions would not resume, causing great disappointment among fans, who faced the highest prices of any race this season.
The inspection determined that “it was the concrete frame around a manhole cover that failed,” the International Automobile Federation (FIA) said in a statement.
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