Ferrari boss fumes at ‘unacceptable’ Sainz damage as Wolff defends F1

Las Vegas GP: Ferrari boss Frederic Vasseur fumes at ‘unacceptable’ Carlos Sainz damage as Toto Wolff defends F1 F1's return to Las Vegas was thrown into chaos as the first practice session was cancelled after just eight minutes; second practice set to take place at 10am on Friday; qualifying on Saturday at 8am and the race on Sunday at 6am on Sky Sports F1 and Sky Showcase Last Updated: 17/11/23 8:54am Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Frederic Vasseur fumed in the team principal presser describing the damage Carlos Sainz sustained to his car as 'unacceptable'. Frederic Vasseur fumed in the team principal presser describing the damage Carlos Sainz sustained to his car as 'unacceptable'. Frederic Vasseur branded F1 as "unacceptable" after Carlos Sainz's car was severely damaged in the opening Las Vegas Grand Prix practice session, but Toto Wolff defended the situation. Sainz ran over a loose manhole cover just eight minutes into the session on the long straight before the flat-out final corner, which damaged his power unit, chassis and survival cell.The red flag was called but Esteban Ocon also ran over the loose manhole cover on the way back into the pit lane. The FIA soon decided to call off the session and Practice Two was delayed as the sport's governing body confirmed "the concrete frame around a manhole cover failed". FIA technical delegate Jo Bauer referred both Sainz and Ocon's car to the stewards as a result of significant changes due to the "impact with a foreign object"."What Carlos said was he hit something on track and didn't know exactly what it was. We completely damaged the monocoque, engine and battery. It's just unacceptable," said Vasseur.The Ferrari team principal was then asked about the Las Vegas event as a whole but was not in a mood to talk in the press conference. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Toto Wolff defended the Las Vegas track saying it's not a 'black eye' for the sport after a drain cover damage ended FP1 early. Toto Wolff defended the Las Vegas track saying it's not a 'black eye' for the sport after a drain cover damage ended FP1 early. He responded: "We f***** up the session for Carlos and he won't be part of FP2, that's for sure, because we have to change the chassis and set up the car. The show is the show and everything is going well but it's unacceptable for F1 today."Toto Wolff was sat next to Vasseur and made an inaudible comment to Vasseur, which the Ferrari boss replied: "Toto you would be upset in my situation!"Several high-profile musicians performed amid spectacular light, drone and firework displays that have taken place this week in Las Vegas in the build-up to one of the most eagerly anticipated events this century.Later on, Vasseur did comment on the show around F1's return to Las Vegas, after two races in 1981 and 1982, making it clear that what happens on and off the track don't impact each other. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player The Las Vegas Grand Prix Practice One was suspended after eight minutes due to a track defect that forced Carlos Sainz to stop his car. The Las Vegas Grand Prix Practice One was suspended after eight minutes due to a track defect that forced Carlos Sainz to stop his car. "You don't have to mix everything. I think that the show is mega and I'm very happy with what Liberty did around the event, and I think it's a huge step forward for the fans," he said."We have to separate what is the show and the sporting side. The show is mega - I was in the Paddock Club yesterday when they did the ceremony, and it was something that I never saw before. I think it was something bigger for the F1."But it's not because you are doing this that you don't have to do the job on the sporting side. I don't want to mix the racing and say they did s*** on the sporting side because they did a show. They are two separate things."Wolff hits out at Las Vegas criticism Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Sky Sports' Martin Brundle and Danica Patrick discuss if Friday's session of the Las Vegas GP will restart after being suspended after just eight minutes due to a drain cover issue. Sky Sports' Martin Brundle and Danica Patrick discuss if Friday's session of the Las Vegas GP will restart after being suspended after just eight minutes due to a drain cover issue. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff offered an impassioned defence of the Las Vegas Grand Prix, which is the first event that the owners of F1 commercial rights, Liberty Media, has organised and promoted itself.Wolff, who believes Liberty have done a "phenomenal job" with Vegas, reacted angrily to being asked whether the event had been "a black eye" for F1."That is not a black eye, this is nothing. We are Thursday night, we have a free pr