2023 Formula 1 Las Vegas GP
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F1 Las Vegas GP Live Commentary and Updates - FP1 & FP2
Friday's action from the 21st round of the 2023 Formula 1 season.
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A mix of soft and medium tyres are on show in this session so far, with no one wanting to touch the hard rubber in such cool temperatures.
Speaking of which, the air temp is 13.8C and track temp 15.5C. It's cold for F1 cars!
Speaking of which, the air temp is 13.8C and track temp 15.5C. It's cold for F1 cars!
There have been a couple of early moments for Magnussen and Perez, with both running off the track and continuing.
Stopwatch
Good news for Ferrari as Sainz bounces back from his earlier incident to go fastest with his initial effort, setting a 1m39.891s. Team-mate Leclerc is now P2 from Verstappen.
Stopwatch
The early pacesetter is Verstappen, as expected. A 1m41.905s is the initial benchmark as Magnussen goes second, 0.3s back.
In the earlier short running, the two Haas drivers both featured in the top three.
In the earlier short running, the two Haas drivers both featured in the top three.
Mechanical problem
Bad news for Norris early on as his McLaren has put itself into limp home mode. You wait all this time and then this happens.
Norris and Piastri lead the field out onto the track as 15 runners immediately leave the garages.
Green flag
Green flag and FP2 is underway. Will we last more than nine minutes this time?
It is an extremely odd atmosphere as we get ready to begin the most talked about event possibly in F1 history, but with empty grandstands.
All excitement has certainly faded, but on we go!
All excitement has certainly faded, but on we go!
Drivers are getting strapped in and it looks like we will finally get some action.
The safety car is heading out onto the track once more. Whether there will be a further delay will become clear very soon.
Any more pushback would result in a shortened session due to strict times that the roads need to be opened by.
Any more pushback would result in a shortened session due to strict times that the roads need to be opened by.
Breaking news
Elsewhere, Macau is showing F1 how to put on a show without a hitch.
https://www.autosport.com/f3/news/macau-gp-browning-grabs-pole-as-shunt-ends-qualifying-early/10547550/
https://www.autosport.com/f3/news/macau-gp-browning-grabs-pole-as-shunt-ends-qualifying-early/10547550/
After making significant repairs to Sainz's car, Ferrari are showing their amusement at the situation, playing 'All night long' loudly in their garage.
It is reported that the track cannot provide the staff to keep fans safe in the grandstands due to the delays. We can't say anymore. It's incredible.
It isn't just the grandstands on the pit straight, it is all of them. Fans have seen just nine minutes of action for a lot of money. A PR nightmare is unfolding on the largest stage.
The grandstands on the pit straight are now also closed, with fans being moved on, so even if the session does eventually begin, there will be minimal spectators.
This is an extremely bad look for F1. Indianapolis 2005 anyone?
This is an extremely bad look for F1. Indianapolis 2005 anyone?
And now we're pushed back to 2:30am local time before the session starts. The word "embarrassing" is being banded about now, and it is very difficult to disagree with that summary.
Twitter
In further Sainz-Ferrari news, a request to add parts from outside the existing pool has been denied by the FIA.
Breaking news
The incident in FP1 saw varying levels of damage fo Zhou's Alfa Romeo, Ocon's Alpine and Sainz's Ferrari - with the latter suffering the most damage.
Speaking in the press conference, Ferrari boss Vasseur didn't hide his feelings.
https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/vasseur-f1-vegas-manhole-issues-that-wrecked-sainzs-ferrari-unacceptable/10547504/
Speaking in the press conference, Ferrari boss Vasseur didn't hide his feelings.
https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/vasseur-f1-vegas-manhole-issues-that-wrecked-sainzs-ferrari-unacceptable/10547504/
The FIA has also now listed the "final start time to be confirmed".
Clearly, this is an ever-evolving situation.
Clearly, this is an ever-evolving situation.
The fix to the track is that the metal water valve covers have all been removed from the circuit, with the holes then filled with asphalt.
Time will tell whether this will work.
Time will tell whether this will work.
We're sorry to have to bring you some bad news. The work to the circuit has overrun and the session has been pushed back by 15 minutes. We should now begin at 2:15am local time, 10:15am GMT.
Breaking news
But one regular feature remained between FP1 and FP2, the team principals' press conference. Just don't interrupt Toto Wolff or question if the early-weekend problems are a "black eye" for F1! https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/wolff-vegas-gp-manhole-incident-not-a-black-eye-for-f1/10547529/
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Filling the unexpected break, Red Bull has celebrated Christian Horner's 50th birthday. There are worse places to celebrate the milestone!
Keeping an eye on the world feed, there are a significant number of officials cars on the track completing final checks. Road sweepers are also clearing any debris from the track.
Breaking news
And if you wanted to know what happened in the nine minutes of action that we have seen so far, we have you covered there too!
https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/f1-las-vegas-gp-fp1-cancelled-for-circuit-repairs/10547401/
https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/f1-las-vegas-gp-fp1-cancelled-for-circuit-repairs/10547401/
Breaking news
It has been quite the ordeal this morning, so here is the full recap for those who enjoyed a more civilised start time.
https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/f1-las-vegas-gp-fp2-delayed-due-to-manhole-cover-problem/10547485/
https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/f1-las-vegas-gp-fp2-delayed-due-to-manhole-cover-problem/10547485/
The session should indeed be over by this point, but after a water valve cover was dislodged just nine minutes into FP1, teams, drivers and fans have all been left waiting while repairs were made to the circuit.
We're back! Good morning and welcome to the delayed FP2 session at the Las Vegas Grand Prix!
Breaking news
One of the biggest victims of this sequence of events is Ferrari with Sainz's car chassis, floor and power unit all suffering heavy damage. Ferrari boss Vasseur has slammed the situation and called it "unacceptable". Full story: https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/vasseur-f1-vegas-manhole-issues-that-wrecked-sainzs-ferrari-unacceptable/10547504/
Photo
If you are just waking up in Europe and wondering what's happened, firstly, where have you been? Secondly, how long have you got?
Photo by: Francois Tremblay
Work and discussion is undertaken to fix the loose manhole covers on track
Breaking news
Hello again, Las Vegas GP FP2 has been delayed from its scheduled start time of 8am GMT due to the manhole cover issue and repairs that are ongoing. Here's the latest: https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/f1-las-vegas-gp-fp2-delayed-due-to-manhole-cover-problem/10547485/
So, certainly not the FP1 anybody expected or wanted. Hopefully the F1 running can resume later today, with FP2 scheduled to start at 8am GMT - a little under two and a bit hours from now. We'll keep you posted on the latest as and when we get it.
Quote
Horner on the Red Bull drivers' impressions of the track to Sky Sports F1: "It is not like Istanbul where the surface was super slippery, the surface is fresh but the temperatures were coming up and everything was behaving. It was just a shame the running got caught short as it was starting to come in. They said it is like driving in the wet on slicks but that is pretty normal for a new track."
Quote
Horner, who turns 50 today, speaking to Sky Sports F1: "We are all good [no damage] but we've seen damage to Alpine and I spoke to Fred [Vasseur] and Ferrari also has damage. Got to make sure safety is paramount before we go running again."
Twitter
So, it really is the 2019 Azerbaijan GP all over again. Back then, FP1 was cut short when Russell ran over a damaged drain cover which damaged his Williams. The FIA ensured all drain covers were welded down safely before restarting the action.
Here's the latest from the FIA: "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 - 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."
Breaking news
Here's the latest on FP1 being canned after eight minutes:
https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/f1-las-vegas-gp-fp1-cancelled-for-circuit-repairs/10547401/ 
https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/f1-las-vegas-gp-fp1-cancelled-for-circuit-repairs/10547401/
Photo by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Images
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-23
So, not the FP1 anybody wanted from the Las Vegas GP. We wait for news on how this impacts the rest of the race weekend, but this is far from ideal.
Ocon has also been, er, drained. His Alpine has suffered similar damage and the team has reported it will need to change his chassis.
By: Autosport Staff
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