Free practice in Las Vegas is canceled after Carlos Sainz destroys his Ferrari with a manhole cover
Ferrari confirms that Carlos Sainz's car has been significantly affected by a manhole cover during the first free practice sessions of the Las Vegas Grand Prix (USA), which were canceled due to that incident.
“We are checking the damage caused to Carlos' car when he hit a manhole cover, (damage) that seems quite large,” the Italian team said on X (the social network formerly known as Twitter).
Formula One canceled the first free practice session in the city of the game due to a manhole cover on the track that caused Sainz's Ferrari to become unusable.
The Spanish driver, who jumped over that loose or raised manhole cover as if he were overcoming a pothole or some type of obstacle, emerged unharmed and without any problems from the incident, but his car had to be towed.
The broadcast images showed that Sainz's car was noticeably damaged under the car and that the FIA stewards came to see the condition of the car while it was being removed.
The underside of Sainz's Ferrari. AFP
“Following an FIA inspection, it was found that the concrete frame around a culvert has failed during the first free practice session,” Formula One said on its official X account (the social network formerly known as Twitter). .
The FIA also assured that it has begun to review all similar coverage of the route and that it will subsequently report any changes to the scheduled schedule of this Grand Prix.
This unfortunate and worrying incident clouded the start of this Grand Prix in Las Vegas, which debuts on the Formula One calendar and which appeared as one of the highlights of the 2023 season.