F1 and Las Vegas GP explain training problems but refused to apologise.
F1 and Las Vegas GP explain training problems but do not apologise.
Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali and Las Vegas Grand Prix CEO Rene Wilm explained the problems on the circuit’s opening night but did not apologise
.
“We want that to happen and for people to understand.”
FP1 was only active for eight minutes when Carlos Sainz and Esteban Ocon both hit loose water valve covers in the lane, causing significant damage.
The session was then suspended and extended by 90 minutes from 2:30 local time to the second round as road repair work continued for more than four hours.
Fans left behind during the delay were taken off the track at 1.30am local time without prior notice due to staffing and logistics issues, explained the reasons in a joint statement from the CEO of Sport and Racing.
“Formula 1’s top priority is the safety and security of its drivers, staff and fans,” the automaker said in a statement.
“The responsibility for overseeing a Formula 1 event rests with Formula 1, the commercial rights holder of the sport, the FIA, the regulator and the local promoter, in this case the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
This is important for those new to racing to understand.
“Last night, about nine minutes into the first free practice, a water valve cover broke on the main stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard.
At that point, the FIA, which is responsible for track safety, stopped the session so they could look at the broken water valve cover and inspect the track.
This has happened occasionally on various tracks during other races around the world.
“As a precaution, all water valve covers in the circuit were removed and filled with sand and asphalt. The whole process from problem identification to repair took about 5 hours.
The decision to restore in this manner was taken out of an abundance of caution as the safety of drivers, drivers, officials and fans is always the top priority.
We would like to thank the construction companies for their quick efforts to resolve the situation quickly.
“As a result, the first free training session ended prematurely. We continued with our second free practice session for 90 minutes around 2:30pm PT.
“The decision to hold a second free practice session at 2:30 a.m. PT was supported by all parties to ensure sporting integrity for the remainder of the event.
“I would like to thank the drivers, mechanics and the entire team for their patience and forbearance in ensuring that last night’s session was a success.
“Now let’s look at the fan experience.
“Delaying the start of the second free practice until 2.30am was a risk to our staff and fans.
“We have decided to close the fan areas in the LVGP jurisdiction at 1:30 Pacific Time and send the fans home.
“Let me explain why.
“First and foremost, we are concerned about public safety and the security of our senior police officers who will be on duty for the next three days. Thank you Clark County Metro.
“Secondly, we were concerned about the transport companies responsible for transporting the fans to the hotels.
Federal law has shortened the amount of time you can legally and safely drive a bus.
“Finally, our hotel staff needed the opportunity to clean and restock the rooms to ensure an optimal fan experience for everyone going forward.
“We know it’s disappointing, and we hope this clarification helps fans understand that many interests must be balanced, including the safety and security of all participants and the fan experience throughout the weekend’s games.
“I have attended events such as concerts, races and other Formula 1 races that have all been canceled due to weather or technical issues.
It happens and I hope people can understand.
“How are we going to do tonight?”
“We have been working around the clock to coordinate our security, transportation and hospitality staffing plans to ensure we can operate if the race schedule is extended and provide the best possible fan experience.
“We are very excited about today’s race and would like to thank the whole team and fans for their support.
We know it will be a big event.
“Let’s get back to the competition with this,” he said.
