F1 News: Ferrari Chief Rages About Carlos Sainz Las Vegas GP Damage - "Unacceptable"

The Las Vegas GP was overshadowed by a safety oversight that led to significant damage to Ferrari and Alpine cars, eliciting a strong reaction from Ferrari's Frederic Vasseur.

Author:
Lydia Mee
Publish date:
Nov 17, 2023

Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur has expressed his frustration over the damage caused to Carlos Sainz's car due to a loose drain cover during the first free practice session of the Las Vegas GP weekend. The incident, which led to a shortened FP1 session, also impacted Alpine's Esteban Ocon and Alfa Romeo's Zhou Guanyu, prompting serious concerns about track safety.

Key Takeaways:

FP1 Session Curtailed: The first practice session at the Las Vegas Grand Prix was abruptly cut short after just eight minutes due to a loose drain cover on the track. This unexpected incident caused significant damage to the cars of Ferrari's Carlos Sainz, Alpine's Esteban Ocon and Alfa Romeo's Zhou Guanyu.
Vasseur's Reaction: Frederic Vasseur, the Ferrari team principal, showed visible frustration during the FIA press conference. He was outspoken about the severe damage to the Ferrari car, highlighting the financial and logistical ramifications of the incident.
Impact on Teams: Both Ferrari and Alpine were forced to undertake chassis changes due to the extensive damage.

Fred Vasseur - Ferrari — Ferrari Press Image

The Las Vegas Grand Prix's opening day was marred by an unexpected and unwelcome incident that resulted in significant repercussions for both Ferrari and Alpine. During the first practice session, a loose drain cover led to a premature end to the session, causing extensive damage to the vehicles of Carlos Sainz and Esteban Ocon. This incident necessitated chassis changes for both teams, a significant undertaking just hours before the weekend's racing.

Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur's reaction was a focal point during the post-session FIA press conference. Visibly upset, Vasseur condemned the incident, emphasising the substantial damage to the Ferrari car and the financial burden it imposed. His comments were direct and charged:

"We damaged completely the monocoque, the engine, the battery. I think it’s just unacceptable.
“It cost us a fortune. We f***ed up the session for Carlos. We won’t be part of FP2 for sure…. I think it’s just unacceptable for F1 today."

The other team principals present at the conference, including Toto Wolff, Zak Brown, and James Vowles, provided more measured responses, but the interviewer quickly moved on from Vasseur due to his evident agitation.