P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Toto Wolff has delivered a passionate defence of the Las Vegas Grand Prix, playing down the cancellation of first practice due to a loose drain cover.
The first free practice session in Las Vegas was abruptly halted after just eight minutes following damage sustained by Carlos Sainz’s car from a loose drain cover. Sainz was forced to pull over, resulting in a red flag period and ultimately the cancellation of the session. A similar incident happened to Esteban Ocon, prompting both Ferrari boss Frederic Vasseur and Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff to express their displeasure during the FIA press conference. Wolff passionately defended the sport, stating that this incident should not be considered a “black eye” and that the organizers and Liberty Media deserve credit for their efforts in making Formula 1 bigger and better. He emphasized the need to analyze the situation to prevent similar incidents in the future, but ultimately dismissed the notion that this incident was a major detriment to the sport.
