After having one of the worst outings in Spa 2021, F1 has given the fans yet another dreadful weekend leaving them flooding out of the Las Vegas GP Circuit. Vegas being the anticipated race of all soon became a nightmare for many.
The Las Vegas FP1 turned into a disaster for not only the bad luck-ridden Ferrari team but the rest of the grid. The first-ever run on the Strip did not turn out as planned with many drivers having to exit with no prior idea of the track layout.
The Vegas practice sessions started off but only ten minutes into it Carlos Sainz borrowed Charles Leclerc’s bad luck. The Spaniard snapped a drain lid which left a hole to mend in the middle of the track. While fans were given no further updates about the drain lid issue, the FP2 was delayed by a few hours.
āGet those God damn cars on the road,ā shouts a fan. Venue emptying out. No official news on whether weāll get any running tonight. Half past midnight local time. #LasVegasGP
ā Philip Duncan (@PhilDuncanF1) November 17, 2023
The drain lid being dragged open resulted in drivers having to leave the tracks and wait for the track to be fixed. Although the track should have been fixed long before the race as per the race director, who hesitated to give Las Vegas a green flag for Sunday.
Loads of fans are leaving the circuit as we all still await a further update š
[Video per @AlanSemsar]#F1 #LasVegasGP pic.twitter.com/7AdAILUWNx
ā Fastest Pitstop (@FastestPitStop) November 17, 2023
Although fans waited for further updates about the sessions and when they would start, many started making their way to the exit. FP2 session was pushed to 2 AM which left fans waiting in the grandstands until the sessions began. However, many did not have the patience to do so as they flooded out of the arena.
The Las Vegas GP confirmed to have no spectators for the FP2
The Las Vegas GP which once was the most anticipated race this season turned into a horrendous weekend for everyone. Vegas GP was added this season and will continue to hold its place in the calendar next season, however, the same cannot be said about the excitement it once enticed.
Carlos Sainz first became the center of all the disasters only ten minutes into the first-ever session on the Strip. As fans took their seats in the grandstands to watch their favorite drivers, the FP1 ended just as soon as it started. However, it was until FP2 and the delay that caused the fans to leave the area themselves that F1 took a major decision.
Las Vegas F1 confirmed that the FP2 outing will have no spectators and will take place around 2 AM after the fan area has been closed by 1:30 AM. All the fans waiting for the sessions to restart were evacuated from the area as they made their way out of the GP.
šØ | An update from the Las Vegas Grand Prix organisation#F1 #LasVegasGP pic.twitter.com/ncLWDTui3B
ā Fastest Pitstop (@FastestPitStop) November 17, 2023
This would be one of the first times for as long as F1 goes in history to have no spectators during one of the sessions. Although a few series of mishaps have happened which caused sessions to be delayed and the races to be shortened, fans in Las Vegas were not having it.
Nonetheless, all the fans will hopefully be let back in for the FP3 session depending on the track quality. Vegas caused a big stir this season becoming the most chaotic race of all.