Repairs to drain covers across the new Strip Circuit after Carlos Sainz incident in shortened opening session brought on two-and-half-hour delay to second session; Leclerc ultimately quickest in P2; watch Las Vegas GP qualifying reside on Saturday at 8am on Sky Sports F1
Last Updated: 17/11/23 12:30pm
Craig Slater describes how drain covers have been compelled up and did harm to the vehicles of Carlos Sainz and Esteban Ocon throughout P1 of the Las Vegas GP
Craig Slater describes how drain covers have been compelled up and did harm to the vehicles of Carlos Sainz and Esteban Ocon throughout P1 of the Las Vegas GP
Charles Leclerc impressively topped an prolonged and delayed Practice Two on the Las Vegas Grand Prix for a fast-starting Ferrari after F1’s arrival on the Strip had earlier been dramatically halted by a defective drain cowl.
First observe, which started at 8.30pm native time on Thursday, ran for little greater than eight minutes earlier than Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari was broken after hitting the drain cowl, with a crimson flag quickly adopted by a full cancellation of the session.
Extensive checks and repairs have been carried out earlier than Practice Two, which was prolonged from 60 to 90 minutes, was lastly capable of get beneath manner at 2.30am native time, two-and-a-half hours later than scheduled.
In what will likely be a giant reduction for organisers and the game on what’s the greatest weekend of the season at F1’s large new occasion, there was no additional repeat of the sooner issues, with the session working with out vital incident.
However, with the delays having run on into the midnight, the session performed out with out followers in the grandstand and expansive fan areas areas.
Crag Slater chats to disgruntled F1 followers as they’re requested to depart the Las Vegas GP observe session earlier than it was as a consequence of restart
Practice Two’s prolonged session grew to become the one significant one for F1’s opening lengthy and fraught day in Vegas because it races on the brand new 3.8-mile Strip circuit for the first time.
Ferrari gained on F1’s final go to to a road monitor, in Singapore in September – the one race-day defeat Red Bull have suffered all season – and confirmed promising early type right here.
Leclerc was notably fast and set the tempo from team-mate Sainz by a full half a second with a finest lap of 1:35.265.
“I am pretty confident they are going to be competitive,” mentioned Sky F1’s Jenson Button of Ferrari.
Max Verstappen seems to be racing already as he goes aspect by aspect with Charles Leclerc in observe two on the Las Vegas Grand Prix
Max Verstappen was solely sixth, 9 tenths of a second behind, with Sergio Perez as an alternative the lead Red Bull in fourth.
For Sainz to even be on circuit was testomony to the work of Ferrari’s mechanics in the prolonged hole between periods. Sainz’s automobile had suffered main harm in the P1 drain incident and Ferrari needed to change three completely different engine parts and the automobile’s major survival cell.
However, the sting in the tail was vital: the necessity for a brand new energy unit power retailer took Sainz over the restrict for penalty-free components for that space of the engine. Despite asking for dispensation, stewards mentioned they have been unable to grant such a want – as they admitted they’d have favored – as F1’s rules didn’t permit it.
The Las Vegas Grand Prix Practice One was suspended after eight minutes as a consequence of a monitor defect that compelled Carlos Sainz to cease his automobile
It means Sainz as an alternative takes a 10-place grid penalty into Sunday’s race.
Fernando Alonso took third for Aston Martin, with Valtteri Bottas up in fifth for Alfa Romeo behind Perez.
Mercedes have been solely ninth and twelfth with Lewis Hamilton and George Russell respectively, whereas in-form McLaren completed outdoors the highest 10 with each their vehicles.
More to comply with…
When to look at the Las Vegas GP reside on Sky Sports
Saturday November 18
- 4:15am: Las Vegas GP Practice Three (session begins at 4.30am)
- 7am: Las Vegas Grand Prix Qualifying build-up (additionally on Sky Showcase)
- 8am: Las Vegas GP Qualifying (additionally on Sky Showcase)
- 10am: Ted’s Qualifying Notebook
Sunday November 19
- 4:30am: Grand Prix Sunday: Las Vegas GP build-up (additionally on Sky Showcase)
- 6am: THE LAS VEGAS GRAND PRIX (additionally on Sky Showcase)
- 8am: Chequered Flag: Las Vegas GP response (additionally on Sky Showcase)
- 9am: Ted’s Notebook (additionally on Sky Showcase)
Get prepared for the massive one: Formula 1 in Las Vegas! See drivers race down the Strip, and previous landmarks like Caesars Palace and the Bellagio, on F1’s latest road monitor. Watch the entire Las Vegas GP weekend reside on Sky Sports F1, beginning this Friday with lights out on Sunday at 6am. Stream F1 on Sky Sports with NOW
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