Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff was left furious with the criticism of the Las Vegas Grand Prix after FP1 on Friday. The session was cut short after just nine minutes of green flag running when Carlos Sainz ran over a loose drain cover on the straight.
The damage caused by the loose drain cover was a cause for major concern, prompting the stewards and F1 to delay the start of FP2 in order to check and attend to the other covers on the circuit.
This, combined with the mixed reception to the opening ceremony and the distractions from inside of the paddock have sparked early conversations about the success of the event.
When asked about this in the post-FP1 press conference, Wolff was incensed, offering his support to the organisers. “It’s completely ridiculous,” he fumed, before repeating his frustrations.
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“Completely ridiculous. [It’s FP1, how can you dare try to talk bad about an event that sets the new standards to everything? And then you’re speaking about a f***ing drain cover that’s been undone.
“That’s happened before. It’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.
“Have you ever spoken good about someone and written a good word? You should about all these people that have been out here. Liberty have done an awesome job, and just because in FP1 a drain cover has become undone, we shouldn’t be moaning.”
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