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Bit of a farce so far
Seems that it's the concrete around the drain cover that gave way - that's a bit more of a challenge to fix (and certify) than just re-welding the covers shut. Also no confirmed start time for FP2 yet - could we be in line for another Indianapolis?
It certainly is now they’ve had to stop practice because of loose manhole covers 😹🤷🏻♂️
could we be in line for another Indianapolis?
$500m, plus all those massively expensive tickets, for 8 mins running. Ouch
Popcorn at the ready, not sure how they can fix this in time if like said it's the concrete around the manhole covers and to be fair I've not much sympathy for Liberty Media getting themselves in this situation.
not sure how they can fix this in time
Especially as the roads are meant to re-open to traffic between sessions.
Indianapolis - The Sequel!... 😬
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/67447322
And...
https://twitter.com/SpannersReady/status/1725400700710953307
Hmm - weird - when I clicked on this thread there had been no posts about this! It appears there have been though! 🤣
Would love to read the risk assessment for this. Can’t see it going ahead. How do you test all the drain surrounds at appropriate speed and force?
and to be fair I’ve not much sympathy for Liberty Media getting themselves in this situation.
Me either - road furniture coming lose has been an issue for decades now. This should not have happened.
Can’t see it going ahead
It's not the first time drain covers have caused issues at a circuit, they'll sort it.
FP2 delayed by two hours - this seems optimistic. If those covers failed after hardly any running, there's not much chance of them lasting the weekend.
Wow!
Well they wanted a great show!
Can’t see it going ahead.
ah, but have you considered $$$$$$$$?
It’s not the first time drain covers have caused issues at a circuit, they’ll sort it.
Can’t remember one involving an issue with the surrounding concrete
how long does it take to fill every manhole with concrete and let it set? That video is amazing. which cover is next?
I know Vegas is like a 24hr place but having F1 cars running until 3:30am local time!
This whole weekend feels like the tail wagging the dog with the amount of focus on the "show" rather than what's going off on track.
Bit unfortunate for Sainz/Ferrari, wrecked PU, battery and chassis by the sound of it.
edit...
https://twitter.com/ChrisMedlandF1/status/1725411883208073284
Looks like max’s percentages (1% race, 99% show) were a bit optimistic on the side of the race…
mashr
Full Member
I would like to think there is something in the cost cap rules to cover this sort of thing. Doesn’t feel right that Ferrari are having to swap out 2/3s of a car for something entirely not their doing
This won't affect the cost cap for Ferrari at all. All of the parts for the rest of the season are already long produced.
This won’t affect the cost cap for Ferrari at all. All of the parts for the rest of the season are already long produced.
That’s the point. They’ve factored in what they need for a season only to have a rogue manhole cover ruin those calculations.
Lead times on F1 parts aren’t like the normal world, they can get upgrades/replacements in incredible timescales. They don’t stock up early season as they all know they’ll be revising the car throughout the year (with the exception of the tub as that needs to get through all the crash test stuff)
They've closed all the fan areas at 1:30am so if you've spent $900ish for a Thursday ticket you've had 8 minutes of track action.
Lead times on F1 parts aren’t like the normal world, they can get upgrades/replacements in incredible timescales. They don’t stock up early season as they all know they’ll be revising the car throughout the year (with the exception of the tub as that needs to get through all the crash test stuff)
The final race of the season is next week. They won't be building a new chassis / engine etc by then.
They’ve closed all the fan areas at 1:30am so if you’ve spent $900ish for a Thursday ticket you’ve had 8 minutes of track action.
They've kicked the rich people out of the Paddock Club too - Liberty Media's lawyers are going to be very busy next week! 🙂
They’ve closed all the fan areas at 1:30am so if you’ve spent $900ish for a Thursday ticket you’ve had 8 minutes of track action.
The grandstands are still open
LOL - BBC reporting that Sainz is going to get a grid penalty for changing his engine! 😬
Sky coverage has started and the grandstands have been emptied, also start pushed back until 2:30am
Yeah, just seen that they're clearing them now.
haha amazing, what a shitshow
F1 really can’t handle its own rule book - utterly bonkers
Almost as much as a shitshow as Spa in the rain a couple of years back? Or when 6 cars lined up on the grid because some tyres were unsafe?
This sort of farce has long been a feature of F1, this isn't unique by any measure.
They were still fixing covers down at 2:15
nickc
Full MemberAlmost as much as a shitshow as Spa in the rain a couple of years back? Or when 6 cars lined up on the grid because some tyres were unsafe?
This sort of farce has long been a feature of F1, this isn’t unique by any measure.
No, I didn't mean that - drains etc are often a problem at street circuits. Especially a new one.
I meant the fact that Sainz has ended up with a grid drop for his troubles because there is no measure available for the stewards to bypass the rule
Per the BBC:
This is the reason given by the stewards as to why Carlos Sainz has been handed that grid drop: "The stewards note that if they had the authority to grant a derogation in what they consider in this case to be to be mitigating, unusual and unfortunate circumstances, they would have done so, however the regulations do not allow such action."
According to Sky Sports, the stewards spent three hours trying to find a way around the rules so Sainz and Ferrari could avoid a penalty.
because there is no measure available for the stewards to bypass the rule
Why is there not someone ultimately in charge that can overrule in the interest of “don’t be stupid”? This isn’t exactly an instance where the other teams would be up in arms about it
The cars are back out. . .
Cars are on track - hopefully that's the end of the drama.
Bonus is I can have it on at work! 🙂
This isn’t exactly an instance where the other teams would be up in arms about it
There are millions of dollars in prizemoney at stake for the constructor's championship standings. Other teams don't give a shit about what's fair, they'll protest if there's money at stake.
Yet another POV of the incident:
I've long though F1 is a boring procession, with the speed and risk rarely being visisble to a layperson. But that video really shows the energies at play. Wow.
I'm (somewhat) sure there was a (somewhat) good reason that the fans had to leave, but really? Let them sit there in the cold the entire time then turf them out right as it starts?
The disrespect that F1 shows for its fans sometimes is quite remarkable.
That's a slap in the face, and if F1 try and wriggle out of refunds they'll have empty stands next year too.
From reports I'd read there was a 4am curfew when track action had to end. If it was a staff isssue all staff should have been contracted to be on site until end of proceedings.
There are millions of dollars in prizemoney at stake for the constructor’s championship standings. Other teams don’t give a shit about what’s fair, they’ll protest if there’s money at stake.
Thats why you’d get their buy-in up front. Anyone that said “no” is going to come out of it looking really crap
There are millions of dollars in prizemoney at stake for the constructor’s championship standings.
I'm not sure the prize-money bothers them any more. Under the cost-cap they are spending a fraction of what they used to and are making profits now, not losses.
F1 teams [i]never[/i] made profits! 🙂
Anyway Ferrari look like they'll be quick both in race trim and in quali. Wonder how they will screw this one up?
Anyway Ferrari look like they’ll be quick both in race trim and in quali. Wonder how they will screw this one up?
Sainz has a 10 place penalty for taking a new battery, so that won't help!
Wonder how they will screw this one up?
Ferrari Engineer "We are considering Plan D, E or F"
I’m (somewhat) sure there was a (somewhat) good reason that the fans had to leave, but really? Let them sit there in the cold the entire time then turf them out right as it starts?
I gather it was because the security personnel were at the limit of their working hours. That's what happens when you prioritize workers' rights over corporate profits.
Watching Alonso onboard down that straight was amazing.
Such a shame Sainz got that penalty, Sky were saying they stewards were doing everything they could to try and avoid it
Who's this new guy that Williams put in the second car? He seems quick. Glad to see the last of the hopeless clown they had before.
Bye bye McClaren in qualifying
Bye bye McClaren in qualifying
Ricciardo must be grinning at making Q2, but Tsunoda and both McLarens getting knocked out.
Bye bye Checo and Lewis
Bye Ricciardo
So, nine teams agreed to let it slide but one team refused? Mercedes are 20 points ahead of Ferrari in the constructors' championship. Let's face it, no team on the grid would agree to let a rival escape a penalty with that amount of money at stake, especially Red Bull and Ferrari.
https://twitter.com/autosport/status/1725896964460409314
I'm with Max on that one.
thols2
Full Member
So, nine teams agreed to let it slide but one team refused? Mercedes are 20 points ahead of Ferrari in the constructors’ championship. Let’s face it, no team on the grid would agree to let a rival escape a penalty with that amount of money at stake, especially Red Bull and Ferrari.
Agree and agree with max. However I have read that the reports saying Mercedes blocked it are incorrect.
Mercedes said they would have tried to block the waiving of the penalty if it was possible to do so, not that they did block it.
See
Agree and agree with max. However I have read that the reports saying Mercedes blocked it are incorrect.
Mercedes said they would have tried to block the waiving of the penalty if it was possible to do so, not that they did block it.
See
This is what they were saying on Sky also
P7 I meant!
I think it’s time to end Martin’s grid walk - it was good when he was talking to team members and drivers. But I’ve no interest in this stream of nobodys.
Anyway - a prediction…
LeClerc will get tagging at the end of the pit straight - end up in the wall at turn 1 - then we’ll have a red flag as there’s no run-off at turn 1! 🤷♂️🤣
Thankfully Lando is OK - but another tyre comes free from the wheel. Seems to be a big issue with these 18” rims.
Yep, an absolute joke. Back to his old send it up the inside and let the other driver avoid contact tactics.
Well - plenty of action even if you don’t like the razzmatazz! 🤣
Did Max just overtake Ocon at the pit exit during the safety car. Ocon already on track - Max coming out.
Could be an interesting last 20 laps.
Was Ocon caught napping as Max exited after his pitstop? Looked like he could have come out in front but Max nipped in front.
I was hoping LeClerc was just looking after his tyres - appears not. 🙁
Good race - enjoyed that.
Great overtake by Leclerc on Perez.
Good race, worth the early start!
Great drive by Charles.
Ferrari now just 4pts behind merc in the constructors!
Good race – enjoyed that.
Good race, worth the early start!
Ultimately, whether the event succeeds commercially was always going to rest on whether it provided good racing. I think the teething troubles from the first practice will be completely forgotten and everyone will remember an exciting and unpredictable race. That's a good thing for the sport.