F1 News: Daniel Ricciardo Calls For Las Vegas Grand Prix Changes After People Were Left "Hallucinating"

Daniel Ricciardo referred to the inaugural event as a 'sketchy' one.

AlphaTauri driver Daniel Ricciardo has called for a change in the schedule of next year's Las Vegas Grand Prix after the drastic change in the timing from last weekend left many “delirious and hallucinating”.

Drivers and teams endured a tough weekend on the Strip, courtesy of its unique schedule that saw the main race go past midnight. Not to forget Carlos Sainz's drain hole cover accident that caused FP2 to begin at 2 am local time. 

Listen To The Latest Driven Mad Podcast Episode

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner had asked for the start time to be rescheduled as the hectic schedule had left “everyone f***ed”. Ricciardo too feels that the schedule throughout the weekend needs to be adjusted for next year for "everyone's health and safety." Speaking to the media, he said:

“It was definitely sketchy, I don't know what they can do with the track opening times, but if they do have flexibility, I think for everyone's health and safety, they need to bring it forward.

“Everyone would be operating with just a bit more juice in the tank. After Thursday and that late session (with Free Practice 2 not finishing until 04:00 Friday local time), I feel like all of us have probably been delirious and hallucinating.

“It's been a whirlwind. The paddock is huge, it has a bit of atmosphere but the only two things I would critique would be the asphalt, we just need to get some more grip out of it, and the start times.

“We need to bring them earlier, that would be a little smoother.” 

However, the 2024 season might be more demanding for all parties involved, considering that the Vegas race serves as the initial segment of a triple-header. Ricciardo added:

"That does not get my vote, now knowing that, they need to bring [the Las Vegas schedule] forward, because we'll be wrecked.