Las Vegas GP boss does little to ease Mercedes fears over latest ever F1 start
Las Vegas Grand Prix chief Renee Wilm has claimed the Formula 1 drivers will be "quite happy" not to be competing in "tremendous heat" as fears grow over the temperature at this weekend's race.
It comes after concerns were raised when the start time for the Grand Prix was pushed back to 10pm local time, where the temperature is set to be 12 degrees Celsius. This is expected to be the chilliest temperature recorded at an F1 race so far this season, though it's by no means the coldest ever. That came during the Canada Grand Prix in 1982 when the temperature dropped to as low as five degrees Celsius.
Nevertheless, the winter-like weather could have an adverse effect on car's tyres and it could change different teams' approach throughout the race. Despite this, Wilm has called for calmness and believes the "electricity and the excitement" will ensure people enjoy the race weekend together.
"I think the drivers will be quite happy to not be racing in the tremendous heat that they have experienced of late," Wilm told Sky. "You can always put layers on, it's hard to take layers off.
"And we have been working closely with the teams, the sporting department at Formula 1 and having conversations with Pirelli to ensure that we will have a high-quality degree of racing and that the tyres that will be brought to town for this event have been carefully chosen, given the variety of temperatures that could be experienced at night here in November.
Dancing with Wolves actor arrested for sex abuse and accused of running cult
"The electricity and the excitement that will be coming off the track and just the throngs of people that are going to be enjoying the race weekend together, I think will definitely raise temperatures enough so everyone will be comfortable."
Meanwhile, Mercedes have already raised their concerns about how they are going to approach the race. "It'll just depend on exactly how cold it is," Mercedes trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin told Autosport. "Because if the track is down in single figures, that's often a region where you go winter testing.
Andrew Shovlin has shared his concerns about the Las Vegas Grand Prix temperatures (Getty Images)"You do a run, it's very difficult for the tyres to either get them switched on, or there may be graining and things. And then sometimes you just wait until it warms up a bit. So actually having to sort of race and qualify in those conditions, it will be interesting."
Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton is eyeing up second spot in the Drivers' Championships but even he is worried ahead of the Las Vegas GP. "I just don't understand how we're gonna move around that place, I don't even know how I'm gonna get from the track to the hotel," Hamilton told Sky Sports.
"It's going to be such a compact spot with so many people, but I think it's gonna be a wild experience. The best thing is just to go with an open mind and not have any pre-determined ideas of what it's going to be like and just take it all in when you get there.
"Driving in the nightlights I'm going to feel like I'm in the Casino movie! It's pretty cool. People are going to be coming from all over for the Grand Prix. It's great that each city here in America gives a different atmosphere but the one thing is they've amazing fans, hardcore sporting fans."
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
