Tag: Las Vegas Grand Prix

Las Vegas Grand Prix: Verstappen finishes first, Leclerc second in thriller

A race full of action saw the inevitable Max Verstappen claim victory in Sin City.

It was a hectic road to get there, but Formula 1 delivered under the lights in fabulous Las Vegas.

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen took the win in Sin City on what started as Saturday in their time zone and bled into Sunday, with polesitter Charles Leclerc coming in behind him and other Red Bull driving Sergio Perez finishing third. The race was filled with overtakes, battles and drama, and it all started on the first turn.

Verstappen and Leclerc battled at the start, with Verstappen running Leclerc wide in Turn 1 — Verstappen was only given a five-second time penalty, and while that seemed a small punishment, Leclerc was able to stay patient and wait for Verstappen to wear his tires down before passing him after around 15 laps. Leclerc then took a huge lead after Verstappen served his penalty, but he fortune took a turn for the worse in Vegas after Lando Norris’ McLaren car crashed out. This allowed Perez, who been in the lead with one less pit stop, to come in and get fresh tires to fight Leclerc.

The middle-to-final frame of the race was filled with exciting battles between the three podium drivers, with Perez besting Leclerc, Leclerc getting the position right back and then Verstappen coming from third to dispatch both late in the race. It seemed as if Leclerc could possibly hold on for second, but he ran wide in Turn 12 in the final frame and allowed Perez to pass him. Then, on the last lap, Leclerc was able to pounce on Perez in a great overtake at the end of the lap to earn second place in the dying embers.

Here’s how the points turned out in Las Vegas:

  1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
  2. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
  3. Sergio Perez (Red Bull)
  4. Esteban Ocon (Alpine)
  5. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)
  6. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari)
  7. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
  8. George Russell (Mercedes)
  9. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
  10. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)

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Daniel Ricciardo questions the track safety for Formula 1 in Las Vegas

Daniel Ricciardo questions the safety of the track in Las Vegas following a disastrous FP1 on Friday. Find out what Ricciardo had to say!

It has been well-documented that Formula 1’s presence in Las Vegas has not been the most well-received event. Before the weekend, local residents were not pleased about the disruptions; however, it has now translated to the race track itself. Carlos Sainz’s incident with the drain cover made people question the safety of the track in Las Vegas.

One of those people is Alpha Tauri driver [autotag]Daniel Ricciardo[/autotag]. Following FP2 on Friday morning, Ricciardo was asked whether Formula 1 has prioritized the “show” over track safety and gave a very interesting answer in return.

“It’s a fair question,” Ricciardo said. “We’re like, yeah it’s a late day, but two cars got ruined. Along with that there is a financial thing there for the teams, which is a big issue for them, but then you brought up the biggest issue which is safety.”

“So fortunately [Carlos Sainz] is OK, but those things could be greater — when I say greater I mean bigger consequences. I don’t know, I think it’s easy to say we did opening ceremonies and focused on other things and did they do their due diligence on the track? But with everything that happened today, you could ask some questions like did they do enough? That one for sure I can’t sidestep, that is a safety concern, and we’re here late but the safety one is something hopefully they will take pretty seriously.”

The safety of the drivers, crew members, and fans should be the top priority. On Thursday night, that was an issue that can’t happen again. Formula 1 will look to move forward with a new day as the sport is ready to hit the track for third practice and qualifying on Friday night.

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Toto Wolff says the issues in Las Vegas isn’t a ‘black eye’ for Formula 1

Mercedes’ Toto Wolff rejects claims that issues with the track in Las Vegas is a “black eye” for Formula 1. Find out what Wolff had to say!

Formula 1 hit a new low in Las Vegas as FP1 was canceled due to Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz running over a drain cover. The track’s safety was put into question and workers were put into action to remedy the situation. Eventually, all of the drain covers were addressed and Formula 1 started FP2 at 5:30 AM EST, which was two and a half hours late.

However, the damage had already been done for Sainz. In fact, Mercedes team principal [autotag]Toto Wolff[/autotag] was asked if the track’s issues in Las Vegas were a black eye for Formula 1. Wolff pushed back against that idea and dismissed the possible narrative.

“This is not a black eye (for Formula 1),” Wolff said. “This is nothing. It is Thursday night. We have one practice session that we are not doing. They are going to seal the drain covers and nobody will talk about that tomorrow.”

“How can you even dare to talk badly about an event that sets the new standard? You’re speaking about a [expletive] drain cover that’s been undone, and that has happened in F1 before. It is first practice. Give credit to the people that have set up this Grand Prix, and that have made the sport much bigger than it ever was. We need to analyze how we can make sure that this doesn’t happen again. But sitting here talking about a black eye for the sport on a Thursday evening…nobody watches that in European time anyway.”

Formula 1 will hit the track again on Friday night as third practice and qualifying is up next. The sport will hope for a better night so the questions of Las Vegas being a “black eye” don’t happen again. Wolff and everyone involved would love for this event to run smoothly moving forward.

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Ferrari talks about ‘unacceptable’ incident for Carlos Sainz in Las Vegas

Ferrari talks about the “unacceptable” incident for Carlos Sainz during FP1 in Las Vegas. What did Ferrari have to say about Sainz’s issues?

Ferrari had plenty of work to do following a canceled FP1 in Las Vegas as [autotag]Carlos Sainz[/autotag] suffered major damage due to running over a drain cover. Sainz will be forced to take a 10-place grid penalty after taking a third new Energy Store during the 2023 season. It was a shocking incident that forced FP2 to be delayed until 5:30 AM EST on Friday morning.

Following the incident, Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur talked about Sainz’s incident as it would set back the team by a decent amount. Obviously, Vassuer was furious about the issue as the track’s safety shouldn’t have become a problem on Thursday night.

“What [Carlos Sainz] said was ‘I hit something on track.’ He didn’t know exactly what it was,” said Vasseur. “The situation is that we’ve changed the monocoque, the engine, the battery – I think it’s just unacceptable. We’ve [expletive] up the session for Carlos. We have to change the chassis of the car. I think it’s just unacceptable from F1 today.”

Sainz was able to run in FP2 as the session was delayed due to work on the track. The Ferrari driver finished in second place behind teammate Charles Leclerc but his life will be harder during the main event. Ferrari has every right to be upset about the incident during FP1 as Formula 1 should’ve made sure the track was completely ready.

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Lewis Hamilton makes strong comments about Formula 1 in Las Vegas

Lewis Hamilton makes strong comments about Formula 1 being in Las Vegas this weekend. Find out what Hamilton had to say about the event!

Formula 1 has officially hit the track in Las Vegas. Well, quite literally. Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz hit a drain cover and suffered major damage, which resulted in the sport canceling FP1. It was a disastrous start to the weekend as people around the world already have mixed feelings about Formula 1 competing in one of America’s biggest cities.

This is something that Mercedes driver [autotag]Lewis Hamilton[/autotag] has noticed as well. Prior to the on-track action kicking off, Hamilton talked to Sky Sports News about Formula 1 being in Las Vegas. The seven-time world champion was adamant in his desire for the sport to respect the local residents.

“I’ve heard there’s been a lot of complaints about the event being here from the locals,” Hamilton said. “I think we have to be respectful of the locals here, so many people working so hard — there’s a lot of money and wealth in this city.”

“We’ve got to make sure people are taken care of. We can’t be a circus that shows up that’s all glitz and glamour and people are affected negatively by it, in my opinion.”

Hamilton also said in a press conference on Wednesday night that he hopes Formula 1 will be able to “do things better so people aren’t disrupted as much.” The Mercedes driver is one of the sport’s icons so when he talks, everyone listens. Hopefully, Formula 1 is listening and trying their best to make this event as smooth as possible.

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Charles Leclerc leads the way in FP2 at Las Vegas, recap and results

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz lead the way in FP2 at Las Vegas. Check out the recap and results from the session in Formula 1!

Formula 1 wasn’t able to start FP2 until 5:30 AM EST due to issues with the track but the 90-minute session concluded without any notable incidents. Max Verstappen led early in the session while qualifying-style laps on the soft tires took place near the end. Verstappen came close to clipping the wall but managed to stay clear of any incident.

As for the final results in FP2, Ferrari led the way as [autotag]Charles Leclerc[/autotag] put down a fast lap of 1:35.265 minutes in 39 laps. Meanwhile, Leclerc’s teammate Carlos Sainz finished second by sitting 0.517 seconds behind him. Unfortunately for Sainz, he will take a 10-place grid penalty after Ferrari was forced to take a third new Energy Store, which exceeds their limit. This came after Sainz ran over a drain cover in FP1.

Below, you can find the results from FP2 in Las Vegas.

  1. Charles Leclerc [Ferrari]
  2. Carlos Sainz [Ferrari]
  3. Fernando Alonso [Aston Martin]
  4. Sergio Perez [Red Bull]
  5. Valtteri Bottas [Alfa Romeo]
  6. Max Verstappen [Red Bull]
  7. Nico Hulkenberg [Haas]
  8. Lance Stroll [Aston Martin]
  9. Lewis Hamilton [Mercedes]
  10. Alex Albon [Williams]
  11. Lando Norris [McLaren]
  12. George Russell [Mercedes]
  13. Kevin Magnussen [Haas]
  14. Oscar Piastri [McLaren]
  15. Pierre Gasly [Alpine]
  16. Esteban Ocon [Alpine]
  17. Yuki Tsunoda [Alpha Tauri]
  18. Zhou Guanyu [Alfa Romeo]
  19. Daniel Ricciardo [Alpha Tauri]
  20. Logan Sargeant [Williams]

FP1 for Las Vegas Grand Prix canceled after track issue causes red flag

Not the best initial showing for F1’s big race in Las Vegas.

Formula 1’s debut in Fabulous Las Vegas didn’t quite go as planned.

FP1 for the Las Vegas Grand Prix began on Thursday night at 11:30 p.m. EST due to the race being set for 1 a.m. on Sunday, and F1’s 10 teams didn’t get a lot of practice in, if any at all. The session was red-flagged shortly into the session when Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz hit an elevated manhole on the long straight going down the Las Vegas Strip. After the incident caused damage on Sainz’s car and forced him to pull off the track, the FIA immediately red flagged the session and canceled it shortly after.

Sainz wasn’t the only victim of the unsafe conditions on the Las Vegas street circuit. Alpine’s Esteban Ocon hit an elevated pothole and suffered damage to the car so bad that the team was forced to change his chassis. Alfa Romeo’s Guanyu Zhou also reportedly suffered damage from the same pothole.

While it’s currently unknown how F1 intends to respond to the cancelation, it’s possible that FP2 could be extended when it happens. The FIA said after the incident that all the other manhole covers must be checked, which they asserted would “take some time”.

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F1 bans Las Vegas Sphere from showing certain colors during race

The sphere will be used by F1 as an extravagant display during the Las Vegas Grand Prix — but it can’t use these three colors.

Formula 1’s Las Vegas Grand Prix will make ample use of Las Vegas’ already-famous Sphere as backdrop to the race this weekend, but it comes with some ground rules.

Autosport reported that the Sphere, a massive, globe-like LED display that has become a big attraction in Las Vegas in the short time it’s been installed, will be used for a number of things during the race such as advertisements, driver cards and footage from the race itself. However, there’s one rule it has to follow — it can’t use the colors red, yellow or blue.

This is due to those three colors being very important for drivers to notice on the light panels at the side of the track that signify flags. Yellow serves as a race caution in certain sectors, red indicates a race stoppage and a return to the pits and blue is a notice for lapped cars to allow cars behind them ahead on the rung to pass. Because it could get confusing for drivers seeing these colors in the corner of their eye from the Sphere, the Sphere won’t use these colors in its extravagant LED displays.

F1 will get full control over the Sphere during race proceedings after renting it out for the weekend. The Sphere is currently occupied by Irish rock band U2, who are putting their Las Vegas residency on hold for the event.

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Every F1 special livery for the Las Vegas Grand Prix

F1 cars will be set to dazzle under the Las Vegas lights with these unique liveries.

There’s a certain air about Sin City, and Formula 1 team made sure to bring the paint jobs to match.

Of the ten F1 teams on the grid, six are bringing a special livery to commemorate F1’s debut in Las Vegas for the Las Vegas Grand Prix. Aston Martin, Mercedes, Haas and McLaren didn’t participate, but everyone else did and they represent the glitz and glam that comes with Las Vegas. Some teams, such ass AlphaTauri, plan to run their liveries for another race after Las Vegas.

Check out every team’s new livery they’re all set to run under the Vegas lights: