F1’s Other Big Blunder Surfaces After Manhole Debacle Wrecks FP1 at Las Vegas GP

The FIA had only recently shed light on how ‘well-versed’ they are with the construction of street circuits, and that there have been provisions made for ample run-off areas which will help ensure driver and spectator safety. But what’s the use of all those measures if something like a water valve cover could cost Ferrari millions of dollars in damage and potentially injure Carlos Sainz?

Formula 1 placed a $500 million bet on this event and so far all it has done is cause a headache for the locals and delay the action for enthusiastic fans. But that’s not all! The off-track planning to account for spectator movement from the track to hotels has failed massively. Fans who have shelled out upwards of $1500 dollars to view Sin City’s grand attraction find themselves fuming at the journey they need to embark on just to make it trackside!

It took 9 minutes to cause a night of struggles for Las Vegas GP visitors

In only 9 minutes of the first practice of the inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix, the red flag was brought out and the session would not resume. Adding to the Vegas local’s misery, the second practice was pushed to 2:30 am local time, due to the FIA rechecking the drainage covers. This meant that if spectators wanted to leave their hotels and head for the track, it was an odd hour to do so.

According to a Twitter post, a Reddit user encountered a nightmarish scene at the Las Vegas GP after the first practice fiasco. The user pointed out that the walk from the center Strip to the track was 40 minutes and the late-night timing made it difficult. Furthermore, one of the temporary pedestrian bridges was built by F1 specifically for the race weekend. This meant that people heading to the Sphere zone of the track by foot had to go through the Venetian Hotel.

The user also added that most fans visiting the street circuit were left in the dark about the rerouted ways in and out of the strip. They also added that the official way to get to the Sphere zone was not available at 7:30 pm local time. This means that the fans spent more time venturing back and forth from the venue than there was actual track time!

READ MORE: Will F1 Relax the $135 Mn Cost Cap for Ferrari After Carlos Sainz’s Manhole Disaster at Las Vegas GP?

However, it isn’t just the spectators and locals that are facing problems related to time delays. The drivers have been raising complaints about how the hectic media schedule and the over-the-top shenanigans have left them feeling exhausted.

The team bosses believe the Vegas GP concerns are ‘first-world problems’

During the FIA press conference after what went down in Free Practice 1, the atmosphere was tense as Toto Wolff defended the event’s organizers, saying that it was only a rough beginning to an otherwise marquee event. On the other hand, Ferrari TP, Frederic Vasseur, was understandably distressed.

Reading the room, Claire Cottingham from racefans.net asked the bosses if the drivers could handle a race with so much media attention and with the times extending so late into the night. However, most of the team principals didn’t share the driver’s concerns and instead felt like it was part of the job to take on days that were tougher than others.

James Vowles perfectly summed up what each of them had to say, “I think it’s been well said. It’s a first-world problem in as much as we’re in a good state, the sport is in a really healthy state. That’s why we have sponsors, partners and a show here fundamentally, exactly as Zak (Brown) said.”

Earlier in the press conference, the McLaren CEO had stated it would be a luxury to have a challenge as first-world as pleasing the fans because ultimately that’s what they are here for. James Vowles added to this, “Our drivers are being pulled left, right and center. But it’s a good thing. If you compared to where we were in 2020 we were worried if Formula 1 would even continue. It’s an absolute pleasure now to at least see that we’re in a good financial state. It’s just an optimization problem.”

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The Williams boss and Toto Wolff both believe that the practice blunder was just a small hurdle in what is otherwise touted to be the biggest Grand Prix of the year. Only time will tell if the organizers can turn this around!