Two F1 Team Bosses Threw The Las Vegas Press Conference Into Disarray

Posted on November 17, 2023 | by Charley Williams Possibly one of the most fiery Formula 1 team principal press conferences we’ve seen in a little while. No, really! Tensions were probably running a little high, admittedly, after FP1 in Las Vegas was cancelled due to a water valve cover on the circuit failing, causing significant damage to two cars. One of those cars was Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari, and unsurprisingly, one of the team principals who had a lot to say about the matter was Fred Vasseur, Ferrari’s team boss. Obviously frustrated with the extensive damage to Carlos’ car, he said: “The situation is that we damaged completely the monocoque, the engine, the battery. I think it’s just unacceptable.” When asked to look at the bigger picture regarding the event itself, he refuses and says: “I’m not sure this is the topic for me today. We had a very tough FP1. It cost us a fortune. We f***ed up the session for Carlos. We won’t be part of FP2, for sure. “I think it’s just unacceptable for F1 today.” Not wanting to be asked any more questions, he said: “Can I leave now? Ask something to Toto.” Later, upon suggestions that F1 simply overlooked making sure the track was completely safe and focussed more on the show, Vasseur said he was still “convinced the event is mega for the F1” and that “this happened in Monaco a couple of years ago, I remember Baku 2019, we had a couple of occasions like this.” He adds: “For sure, I’m frustrated, also scared because Carlos hit a metal part at 320kph and could have been much worse.” But it wasn’t just Vasseur, Toto Wolff also had quite a fiery rant! He was asked whether this incident was a “black eye for F1” and how the sport can move forward from this. Toto answers: “That is not a black eye, this is nothing. We are Thursday night, we have a free practice session one that we’re not doing, they’re going to seal the drain covers and nobody is going to talk about it tomorrow morning anymore. So let’s…” But another journalist interrupts him in disagreement. Wolff defensively responds: “Did you ask the question? It’s completely ridiculous, ridiculous. FP1. How can you even dare try to talk back about an event that sets new standards for everything? “And then you’re speaking about a f***ing drain cover that’s been undone that’s happened before, that’s nothing. It’s FP1. Give credit to the people that have set up this grand prix, that have made this sport much bigger than it ever was.” He continued: “Liberty has done an awesome job, and just because in FP1 a drain cover has become undone, we shouldn’t be moaning; the car is broken. “That’s really a shame for Carlos, it could have been dangerous. Between the track and the FIA and everybody, we need to analyse how we can make sure this is not happening again, but talking here about the black eye for the sport on a Thursday evening.” ???? Whose view do you agree with more? Vasseur or Wolff?