Las Vegas editorial: Fiasco of the early days

Written by fanf1
Las Vegas editorial: Fiasco of the early days
Credit: FanF1

We were promised a big party for the Las Vegas Grand Prix, but it didn't happen. After an incident eight minutes into free practice, fans were ejected and prices skyrocketed, so we'll have to rethink our approach.

What was supposed to be a spectacular weekend turned into a complete disaster. After noticing a slowdown in ticket sales, organizers reduced the prices of expensive seats in order to attract crowds, only to ultimately deny these fans access to the circuit for “safety reasons.”

If the FIA, Formula 1, and other governing bodies are truly concerned about safety, perhaps they should reconsider holding races on city streets. Public roads pose hazards such as manhole covers and drainage grates in the middle of the track, unlike purpose-built circuits, where these obstacles are placed on the sides.

This problem is not new. George Russell had a bitter experience with it in Baku a few seasons ago. Now Ferrari is facing repair costs amounting to several hundred thousand euros, a heavy blow that will weigh heavily on the team's accounts at a time when every penny counts due to the budget restrictions imposed on the sport. As Ferrari and Carlos Sainz deal with the fallout from this incident, it is worth highlighting Mercedes' double standard. After the Spaniard's car crashed, Ferrari requested that the replacement parts be excluded from the cost calculation, but Mercedes blocked this request. This may be part of the game, but when the same issue affects team boss Toto Wolff, the position changes. The Las Vegas Grand Prix was billed as an American-style spectacle, but the reality was rather uncomfortable. Sergio Pérez's embarrassed look before the drivers' parade and the chaos that reigned during the team presentations before free practice speak volumes. Sunday's race went well, despite Lando Norris' surprising accident, but the events surrounding it need to be rethought. A more traditional format, less focused on spectacle, could make the Las Vegas Grand Prix a must-see event.