F1 2023 - Round 22 - USA - Las Vegas

Dave0301

"This is the reason given by the stewards as to why Carlos Sainz has been handed that grid drop: "The stewards note that if they had the authority to grant a derogation in what they consider in this case to be to be mitigating, unusual and unfortunate circumstances, they would have done so, however the regulations do not allow such action."According to Sky Sports, the stewards spent three hours trying to find a way around the rules so Sainz and Ferrari could avoid a penalty."

Not sure that his will help calm Vasseur down much!

twin_beacon

€250M to construct the track, 8 mins of running, and 2 cars need to be rebuilt because of the track. I really hope that is the end of the track issues for the weekend. I now see that Sainz is facing a grid penalty for replacing damaged components on the car, thats an absolute joke! The chassis, engine, battery, survival cell and some electronics were damaged beyond repair (according to the FIA statement), surely the extensive cost of the damage is enough for the team?

I see on twitter that a pedestrian bridge failed, and spectators had to take a long diversion to get to their seats for FP1, now it looks like the grand stands will be closed for FP2? If thats the case, its only fair that ALL the spectators get a refund. The cost of the tickets were absurd, even for FP1 and FP2.

I was in Las Vegas for a few nights just over 2 weeks go, to say there is zero appetite for the F1 is an understatement. Of course the first year is always going to be the toughest as they had to lay the track (the condition of the strip on the other side is a joke! its in terrible condition). The disruption pissed everyone off, as everyone drives over there, very little public transport. A lot of the uber and taxi drivers I talked to were leaving town for the weekend. I think the amount of money that was estimated that the F1 would bring to Las Vegas has been totally over exaggerated. I had to give an email address to connect to the wifi in the casinos, since then I've got a few emails from them trying to sell race weekend packages of room and tickets, at "reduced" rates, which are still extortion! Still plenty of tickets for sale for Qualifying and the Race. Unless Tickets are given away for free, there will be a good few empty seats dotted around the grand stands. not a good look when most F1 races are sell outs.

McFly85

What an absolute shítshow.

Track not fit for purpose, not enough staff, fans screwed over and out of pocket.

This isn’t a race, this is a glorified media event.

MadYaker

It really seems like the whole event has been a massive 2 fingered salute to all Vegas residents and business owners.

McFly85

Imagine, $300 to watch practice 1&2 and getting a grand total of 8 minutes of track time.

flazio

I see they managed to get Sainz out.

Vicxas

Sky harping on about how much the drivers must love this track.

I would gather they really, really don’t.

The pit lane exit looks like a disaster waiting to happen

dulpit

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121379101#Comment_121379101

Sky said that they would not have given the penalty if there was unanimous support from all teams. Seemingly 1 team would not agree. They didn't name the team but kept saying it was the team in close fight with Ferrari in placings... 1 team is 40 points behind Ferrari (McLaren), but their team principal clearly stated on Sky he favoured that they would get no penalty. 1 team is 20 points ahead of Ferrari (Mercedes), and their team principal seemed to downplay the issue in press conference earlier. So take from that what you will...

antodeco

Have to say, the commentators sound absolutely exhausted!

stesaurus

Have any of the remaining session times changed?

Infoanon

Max was being interviewed and he made it very clear that he does not like the circuit (think Red posed the question ).

If Sainz gets a front row starting spot and is then demoted , the response from the already dwindling US audience will be on a par with the Indy tyre fiasco.

The team principal blocking the penalty being rescinded , although unnamed so far , is believed to be the same team principal who has been defending the event including today's fiasco.....

Brief_Lives

Toto?

pjohnson

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121379901#Comment_121379901

Obviously.

PsychoPete

Why can't they just say it was Toto, the whole thing had been a clown show so far and there's no defending it. Verstappen was very critical of the whole thing in an interview, I'd tend to agree with him. I know he's very much in the old school mindset tho. I don't see Vegas putting up with this level of disruption every year

pjohnson

I'm sure they've logged simulator laps but given the lack of on track running it'd be the cherry on top if 18 cars (not Mercedes onviously) repeated the Indianopolis 2005 fiasco and just quit the race.

Vicxas

Please tell me Vegas is only confirmed for this year

mickdw

No excuse for this drain cover nonsense when dealing with 100 percent resurfaced road. They should all have been rebuilt to f1 spec.

No point welding cover to frame when frame is only left into the road surface.

Nearly as bad as when f1 display came to dublin a few years back. They tarmaced over manhole covers with about 15mm of material. 1st f1 car did a donut and sent tar flying towards the crowd.

Brief_Lives

would I be out of order on this forum, saying I like Toto...

i am not sure how this forum leans.

I am also a Max fan.

dulpit

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121380167#Comment_121380167

I usually like Toto. He's oddly pro-Vegas though this weekend. A bit unhinged in this:

https://youtu.be/xTlR27h-UPs?si=V7v1PLBttshG9Xn3

mickdw

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121380167#Comment_121380167

He is a bit of a dick head imo. Was all talk of no blame culture etc when they were winning everything due to getting a head start on the field.

The mask slips fairly quick when things go wrong.

Brief_Lives

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYrXCSeAoIU

xyz

seamusk84

Found it very difficult to get a read of the pecking order from P2 there. Ferrari fast yes. I think Red Bull still quicker in straight-line though - Max for pole.

McLaren not up top much, track doesn't seem to suit them. So I'd say quali something like:

1. Max
2. Charles
3. Perez
4. Albon (Genuinely)
5. Sainz
6. Alonso

Thoughts?

flazio

Both Wolff and Horner are as bad as each other.

James Vowles is the best out of the lot of them.

El_Duderino 09

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121379400#Comment_121379400

Maybe they should just scrap the race and focus on the main events like the music and the "amazing atmosphere" I keep hearing about. The race seems to be a major inconvenience for everyone and it appears to have been an afterthought.

Just get the drivers to wear their uniform and do interviews about how brilliant Las Vegas is.

twin_beacon

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121380124#Comment_121380124

10 year contract.

Brief_Lives

oh dear

MadYaker

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121380308#Comment_121380308

The McLaren doesn't like slow corners. Id expect Albon to be up there, they have low drag (and low downforce) which suits this track. ID expect Ferrari and RB mix on the podiums.

NinjaTruncs

So Ferrari to take pole and Max to win.

LIGHTNING

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121379174#Comment_121379174

People keep saying this like they have somehow uncovered some global conspiracy theory. Half the F1 events could be put under the same bracket.

Rowley Birkin QC

Is the TV coverage being run by F1 or Liberty themselves?

Asking as the bits that I watched after the drain incident didn't show the usual post mortem shots we get during red flags where you get lads working on the track repairs etc. Seemed to fir the Vegas model of being all about the show and keeping all the sh!t behind the scenes.