17 November 2023 , 07:56
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The Las Vegas Grand Prix weekend has been thrust into doubt amid an indefinite delay to on-track action after two cars picked up heavy damage when they hit a loose manhole cover in practice.
It happened just a few minutes into first practice on the newly constructed street circuit. Carlos Sainz hit the object, doing damage to his Ferrari which will "cost a fortune" to repair, while Esteban Ocon also needed a new chassis on his Alpine.
The manhole cover in question is being fixed while all the rest on the track are being heavily scrutinised. The track was inspected by the FIA before on-track running began and was declared fit for racing.
While that work goes on, there is no timeframe as to when the action will be able to resume. Second practice, which was due to take place at 8am GMT Friday morning, has been indefinitely delayed.
A spokesperson for the FIA said: "Following inspection, it was the concrete frame around a manhole cover that has failed. We now need to check all of the other manhole covers, which will take some time.
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"We will be discussing with the local circuit engineering team about the length of time it will take to resolve and will update with any resultant changes to the schedule." They also confirmed that "discussions around all possible scenarios are ongoing".
Even if practice is able to take place, Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur said his team will not be able to get Sainz's car ready in time for him to take part. He described the situation as "just unacceptable" as he told reporters that chassis, engine and battery damage had been done.
"The show is mega and I am very happy with what [F1 commercial rights holders] Liberty [Media] did around the race but we have to separate the show and the sporting side," said the Frenchman.
"The show is mega. 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."
His words echo those of Max Verstappen who was left very unimpressed after taking part on the 'opening ceremony' for the event on Wednesday night. The champion slammed the event as being "99 per cent show, and one per cent sporting event".