Red, odd, and passes for Ferrari in Vegas

He doesn't listen to the cooing of the host of the FIA ​​press conference who is trying hard to make him tell how much magic works in the kingdom of kitsch.

« I'm not sure this is the topic », replies Frédéric Vasseur dryly. On the show and the profit that the F1 will inevitably withdraw, the boss of the Team has already spoken out and has even less intention of returning to it since it only took a handful of minutes – eight to be precise – before the first stroke of a penknife came to tear the curtain which had barely been raised on the new route.

A manhole cover that comes apart is not a first in Grand Prix. It happened in Baku (Azerbaijan) in 2019, and in Monaco in the more distant past. But in the case of Las Vegas, what is annoying is the contrast between the attention that seems to have been paid to the spectacle and its dressing to the detriment of the sporting aspect. At the start of the race weekend, the latter seems to have clearly taken a back seat.

So, obviously, let him return to the limelight via a freedom-loving drain that pulverized the flat bottom of Ferrari's Sainz, is not likely to delight the French manager. “ Unacceptable » he exclaims while the Spaniard's participation in the second free session was not guaranteed. For the Scuderia, entertainment paradise is transformed into gambling hell: welcome to La Vegas!

Double penalty for Carlos Sainz after his improbable accident in EL1 at the Las Vegas Grand Prix. / © DPPI

Kafkaesque penalty

In the pit, the mechanics are busy without really knowing how much time they will have at their disposal to get the injured beast back into working order.

This is all the more problematic as the chassis, the combustion engine, the electronic control unit and the battery were damaged. The latter must be changed, which will cost the winner of the last Singapore GP 10 penalty places because he has already reached his annual quota.

Obviously, Ferrari requests a “derogation” from the F1 sporting regulations, but the appeal is reluctantly rejected by the panel of commissioners “obligated” to apply the rules as they are written.

Another blow for the men in red who nevertheless managed the feat of being ready for 2:30, the new timetable for EL2. It will last 90 minutes to compensate for the cancellation of the first session.

EL2 productive and encouraging

As always on a new circuit, the objective is to complete as many laps as possible to familiarize yourself with the track; which was successful since the two drivers ultimately completed 39 laps each, using three sets of soft tires for the qualifying simulations and a set of Mediums for a “race configuration” test with a full tank of fuel. Bingo! Luck in one of these twists of which only she has the secret smiles this time on the Italians. Respectively credited with a time of 1'35″265 and 1'35″782, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz set the two best times!

« A night of contrasts, breathes the Monegasque, with only four laps completed in the first session. Luckily, the second was productive. We did a good number of laps and I really enjoyed driving on this circuit. So far we look pretty competitive, but there's still a long way to go. »

« It's true that we had a hectic day after the manhole cover problem on the first day of testing, adds the Spaniard when it's 5 a.m. and Las Vegas is waking up. The guys did an outstanding job. They basically had to rebuild the entire car before FP2, and we managed to complete our program. A big thank you to them. We look to be competitive this weekend and I'm looking forward to tomorrow.

On the negative side, we received a 10 place penalty for Sunday after the manhole cover damaged, among other things, the battery that we had to replace it. Honestly, I don't understand! An exception to the rule should have been considered given what happened, but we will have to live with it… »

Such is life in “Sin City” where morality is rarely safe!

ALSO READ > Las Vegas: Beautiful as a truck, too bad the engine stalled