Las Vegas GP: First practice cancelled after broken manhole cover damages cars of Carlos Sainz and Esteban Ocon

Formula 1 was making a return to Las Vegas for the first time since 1982; Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz and Alpine’s Esteban Ocon both suffered significant damage to their cars because of broken manhole cover on all-new circuit

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The Las Vegas Grand Prix Practice One was suspended after 8 minutes due to a track defect that forced Carlos Sainz to stop his car

Formula 1’s return to Las Vegas was thrown into chaos as the opening practice session was cancelled after just eight minutes of action due to a broken manhole cover damaging the cars of Carlos Sainz and Esteban Ocon.

With F1 returning to Las Vegas for the first time since 1982, a red flag was thrown by the race director after Ocon’s Alpine and then Sainz’s Ferrari suffered significant damage having run over the damaged part of the track.

A further 11 minutes passed before a decision was taken to cancel the session, with second practice uncertain to start as scheduled at 8am.

An FIA statement said: “Following inspection, it was the concrete frame around a manhole cover that has failed.

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Sky Sports Martin Brundle and Danica Patrick discuss if Friday’s session of the Las Vegas GP will restart after being suspended after just 8 minutes due to a drain cover issue

“We now need to check all of the other manhole covers which will take some time – we will be discussing with the local circuit engineering team about the length of time it will take to resolve and will update with any resultant changes to the schedule.”

More to follow…

When to watch the Las Vegas GP live on Sky Sports

Friday November 17

• 7:45am: Las Vegas GP Practice Two (session starts at 8am)
• 9:15am: The F1 Show: Las Vegas

Saturday November 18

• 4:15am: Las Vegas GP Practice Three (session starts at 4.30am)
• 7am: Las Vegas Grand Prix Qualifying build-up (also on Sky Showcase)
• 8am: Las Vegas GP Qualifying (also on Sky Showcase)
• 10am: Ted’s Qualifying Notebook

Sunday November 19

• 4:30am: Grand Prix Sunday: Las Vegas GP build-up (also on Sky Showcase)
• 6am: THE LAS VEGAS GRAND PRIX (also on Sky Showcase)
• 8am: Chequered Flag: Las Vegas GP reaction (also on Sky Showcase)
• 9am: Ted’s Notebook (also on Sky Showcase)

Get ready for the big one: Formula 1 in Las Vegas! See drivers race down the Strip, and past landmarks like Caesars Palace and the Bellagio, on F1’s newest street track. Watch the whole Las Vegas GP weekend live on Sky Sports F1, starting this Friday with lights out on Sunday at 6am. Stream F1 on Sky Sports with NOW