Formula 1 Las Vegas GP
FIA and F1 working to get delayed Vegas FP2 underway at 2:30am local time
The delayed second practice session for Formula 1’s 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix could begin at 2:30am local time and last 90 minutes, if the work to fix the problematic water valves along the Las Vegas Strip that caused FP1 to be cancelled is successful.
Alex Kalinauckas
Edited: Nov 17, 2023, 3:49 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
The event’s FP2 session had been expected to get underway at midnight local time, but a message on the FIA’s timing system pages announced one hour before that point that second practice would be delayed.
It follows Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz and Alpine’s Esteban Ocon suffering serious damage due to the manhole cover being worked loose as its concrete surround apparently failed under the stress of the ground-effect F1 cars going over it at top speed.
Since the incidents in FP1, the FIA has been urgently inspecting the rest of the manholes around the 3.9-mile track.
It is understood that there are around 30 water valves that need to be inspected.
Just over an hour after FP1 had been abandoned, a joint statement from F1 and Las Vegas GP organisers included a line that stated they would “provide an update on the race schedule as soon as possible”, but the only official information released since that point has been the timing screen update announcing the delay to FP2.
In the gigantic Vegas paddock complex, rumours had been swirling that a possible announcement regarding the developing situation and its impact on the remainder of Friday’s running would be released at 11pm local time, but this came and went.
There had also been speculation that the event could resume with FP2 starting later than billed possibly lasting longer, but this remains unconfirmed.
Approaching 00.30, it is understood that the FIA and F1 officials are still working to get a 90-minute session in, which would commence at 2.00am.
It is also understood that work is being conducted to fill in the water valves along the Vegas Strip with track surface materials that would allow the cars to run over them, without the surface breaking up.
Photo by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Images
Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-23, stops his car on circuit after damage from a manhole cover
The teams will be greatly concerned about the state of the other manhole covers given Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur revealed in the team principals’ press conference that followed the FP1 session that really only lasted nine minutes of the scheduled 60 that the incident had “damaged completely the monocoque, the engine the battery” on Sainz’s car.
There is also an inevitable impact on the fans that had arrived at the Vegas track expecting to see F1 cars running in the city for the first time in 41 years.
Motorsport.com observed stunned silence at the corners outside the huge Sphere entertainment venue when FP1 was first abandoned, with circuit commentators unable to inform the spectators why the session had been cancelled following the red flag that was initially called when Sainz stopped on track as a result of the damage.
There have since been reports that some fans have chosen to leave the venue.
The plan to shift FP2 to later on Thursday night will also need to take into consideration that per the event’s schedule of road closures, the sections of public highway that have been closed to form the track are supposed to start reopening at 2am.
Local traffic is, however, only scheduled to be allowed back on the roads used by the circuit at 4am and the plan to get FP2 underway at 2am takes this into account as it would be considered a hard cutoff for when any running would have to conclude.
Read Also:
Formula 1Vasseur: Vegas manhole issues that wrecked Sainz's Ferrari F1 car "unacceptable"
Formula 1F1 teams must be “flexible” over any Las Vegas GP timetable rejig, says Horner
Formula 1FIA conducting manhole cover inspections after F1 Las Vegas FP1 cut short
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article F1 teams must be “flexible” over any Las Vegas GP timetable rejig, says Horner
Next article Vasseur: Vegas manhole issues that wrecked Sainz's Ferrari F1 car "unacceptable"
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Alex Kalinauckas
Who is Kimi Antonelli, F1 sprint polesitter at just 18?
Formula 1
Formula 1
Who is Kimi Antonelli, F1 sprint polesitter at just 18?
Why Bottas has the edge over Perez in 2026 F1 return race
Formula 1
Formula 1
Japanese GP
Why Bottas has the edge over Perez in 2026 F1 return race
What if Red Bull solved its second-car problem with a paint job?
Formula 1
Formula 1
Japanese GP
What if Red Bull solved its second-car problem with a paint job?
Latest news
Winners and losers from a Chase-altering NASCAR Cup race at Phoenix
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Phoenix II
20 min
Winners and losers from a Chase-altering NASCAR Cup race at Phoenix
Heart of Racing rules Valkyrie GTP step next year ‘too soon’ for IMSA standout Barrichello
IMSA
IMSA IMSA 24 min
Heart of Racing rules Valkyrie GTP step next year ‘too soon’ for IMSA standout Barrichello
Sergio Perez: Debut Cadillac season "without a doubt one of my best years"
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
United States GP
35 min
Sergio Perez: Debut Cadillac season "without a doubt one of my best years"
McLaren to use final 2026 developments to test 2027 F1 car concepts
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1 1 h
McLaren to use final 2026 developments to test 2027 F1 car concepts
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe