Horner says that F1 teams need to be “flexible” about any schedule for the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
When a loose manhole cover stopped the first free practice session early on Thursday evening, the much-anticipated F1 event in Las Vegas went off to a terrible start.
When Carlos Sainz as well as Esteban Ocon hit one of the loose drains upon the main straight, it did a lot of damage to their cars. Zhou Guanyu also hit it, but his car didn’t take a major hit.
But there are doubts regarding whether minute practice can happen as planned. The FIA is carefully checking all the manhole covers near the track to figure out what work needs to have done so that track action can restart.
Horner says that teams should show their support if things require to be changed, like delaying practice or shortening lessons while they are going on.
To Sky Sports F1, Horner said, “We just need to be flexible.” Fans who came to see the trucks run will be very disappointed, but safety must come first. We need to get this right, and we both hope it doesn’t take too long.
Horner was asked what would occur if second practice couldn’t happen. He said, “We’d have to add more running time in P3 or a thing like that.”
I think they’ll figure it out. We’ll be here for a while anyway! Why not go for a run at 2:00 in the morning? So, everyone across Europe can also see it! Adding tonight.”
The FP2 session was supposed to start at 11:30 local time, but an hour early, the FIA’s timing system pages showed that second practice was going to be taking longer than planned.
The FIA has been quickly checking all of the manholes around the 3.9-mile track since the accident in FP1 where Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz and Alpine’s Esteban Ocon were badly hurt because the water valve cover came loose because its concrete surround apparently broke under the stress of the ground-effect Formula One vehicles going over it at top speed.
A statement from F1 or Las Vegas GP organizers said they would “provide an update on the race time as soon as possible” just over an hour following FP1 had been called off. However, the only official information that has been released since then is the timing screen update that announced the delay to FP2.
There were rumors going around in the huge paddock complex in Las Vegas that an explanation might be made at 11 p.m. local time about the situation and how it might affect the rest of Friday’s races, but this didn’t happen.
There was also talk that the event might go on with FP2 starting afterwards than planned and possibly going on longer than planned, but this has not been confirmed yet.
Horner said that the first look at Red Bull’s cars after practice showed they had not been hit by the drain cover.
He said, “So far, we’re all good.” “From what I’ve heard, one of the Alpines seems to have gotten some damage. I also had a quick chat alongside Fred [Vasseur], and the damage to that Ferrari is pretty bad.”
During the initial practice session, there wasn’t much running. Horner said that early views of the track surface in Las Vegas confirmed fears that it wouldn’t grip well, but it appeared to be getting better quickly.
“It’s not like Istanbul, where the ground was very slippery,” he said. “The surface was actually brand new. The tire pressures were rising, and things were beginning to behave quite well.” The running should have gone on longer because it was just beginning to come in.
People who drive have said that it feels like driving at the rain on slicks right now, but that’s normal for a surface that’s so new. It’s pretty tricky, especially in the places where you have to brake.