F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix: FP1 Cancelled as Track Issues Cause Heavy Damage to Carlos Sainz's Ferrari SF-23
After only eight minutes of running time, the first practice session for the Las Vegas Grand Prix had to be called off owing to a loose drain cover. After Carlos Sainz pulled to the side of the track with just over 50 minutes remaining on the clock, the race was first red-flagged.
By Divyam Dubey
The Las Vegas Grand Prix's first practice session stopped early due to an incident involving Ferrari's Carlos Sainz. Nine minutes into the first practice session, the Ferrari driver stopped at Turn 17. Footage from his SF-23 showed that his engine cut out after hitting something in the road. Sainz was able to get out of the car without any help, but this was still a major setback for the Spanish driver after only three laps.
Sainz's engine appeared to cut out as he was entering the last sector, suggesting that he had bottomed out against something (possibly a drain cover). A yellow flag was waved in the direction of the parked Ferrari, and then a red flag was waved to bring an immediate halt to all activity on the Strip. Despite having 40 minutes left on the clock, stewards determined a safety issue with the circuit, preventing the session from resuming. The FIA later confirmed that they are investigating an issue with a drain cover, with Esteban Ocon also suffering damage from a similar incident.
Looks like a bump on the track has caused Sainz's car to switch off #F1 #LasVegasGP pic.twitter.com/HBW0otcYhk
— Formula 1 (@F1) November 17, 2023
Also Read: F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix: AlphaTauri Reveals Their Final Livery Ahead of Rebranding in 2024
F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix: Free Practice 1 Result
In terms of lap times, Charles Leclerc topped the timesheets, showcasing an impressive lead of 2.5 seconds over Nico Hulkenberg. It's important to note that these lap times may be considered unrepresentative due to the limited running during the session.
| Pos | Drivers | Team | Time |
| 1 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1m40.909s |
| 2 | Nico Hulkenberg | Haas | 1m43.446s |
| 3 | Kevin Magnussen | Haas | 1m44.261s |
| 4 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | 1m44.397s |
| 5 | Esteban Ocon | Alpine | 1m45.365s |
| 6 | George Russell | Mercedes | 1m45.497s |
| 7 | Carlos Sainz | Ferrari | 1m45.824s |
| 8 | Yuki Tsunoda | AlphaTauri | 1m45.908s |
| 9 | Sergio Perez | Red Bull | 1m46.793s |
| 10 | Valtteri Bottas | Alfa Romeo | 1m47.147s |
| 11 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine | 1m48.253s |
| 12 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | 1m48.513s |
| 13 | Daniel Ricciardo | AlphaTauri | 1m48.650s |
| 14 | Zhou Guanyu | Alfa Romeo | 1m48.822s |
| 15 | Lando Norris | McLaren | 1m48.947s |
| 16 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin | No Time Set |
| 17 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | No Time Set |
| 18 | Alex Albon | Williams | No Time Set |
| 19 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | No Time Set |
| 20 | Logan Sargeant | Williams | No Time Set |
Also Read: F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix: Williams, Alfa Romeo Unveil Special Livery Ahead Of Race Weekend
F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix 2023: About the Nevada Street Circuit
The Las Vegas Grand Prix is shaping up to be a highlight of the Formula 1 season, and it's being touted as one of the most anticipated FIA-sanctioned races. The track's attractiveness, in addition to the city of Las Vegas's own magnetic appeal, helps to increase anticipation for the show. The course, which is 6.20 km long and has 17 turns (one of which is the world-famous Las Vegas Boulevard), is widely praised and debated among racing fans.
The track's similarities to Monza, especially in the straights, make it a difficult test for the teams. Adapting to the necessity of cutting downforce and handling poor grip conditions becomes a critical component of the plan as teams battle with the distinctive characteristics of the Las Vegas GP.
