'Underneath the Las Vegas Grand Prix spectacle was F1's ugly side'

For some spectators, the nine minutes was all they ever saw of the cars on circuit. As remedial work, which delayed any further running, came to an end, hospitality staff, security and bus drivers were coming to the end of their shifts — some forced to stop because of restrictions on driving hours.

That meant fans had to go too, despite waiting for hours. Messages over the tannoy system ordered them out at around 1.30am, which is when they would have been leaving had the second session started at midnight as planned. Security and police marched in to eject anyone who had remained in the hope of seeing what they had paid for.

An extended practice session began an hour later. While cars raced down the Strip in front of empty grandstands, outside the circuit anger raged, including from people who only had tickets for the first day.

“We have worked to adjust our staffing plans in the event of an extended race schedule”

F1 could have apologised but it didn’t. Just as the FIA did after the Abu Dhabi controversy in 2021, so F1 inferred that the complaining fans were ignorant.

A statement signed off by Renee Wilm, CEO of the company created to run the Las Vegas race and Stefano Domenicali, F1’s CEO, began by listing how responsibility for a grand prix “falls with Formula 1 as the commercial rights holder of the sport, the FIA as the regulatory body, and the local promoter, in this case the Las Vegas Grand Prix.”

Then came the patronising sentence: “This is important for those who are new to racing to understand.”

Why it’s so crucial to understand the organisational structure of a motor race before you’re brazen enough to cast your eyes on the circuit was never explained at all.

Then, in a spectacular about-turn, Wilm and Domenicali admitted that they themselves had not done their homework and considered the possibility that any of the sessions might overrun.

“We have worked overnight to adjust our staffing plans across security, transportation and hospitality to ensure that we can function and serve fans with the best possible experience in the event of an extended race schedule,” read the statement, appearing to confirm that there had been no previous plan for any significant delay.

It’s not as if this was a far-fetched scenario. Quite apart from the likelihood of teething troubles at a brand new venue, interruptions are a feature of F1. Only two weeks before, qualifying for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix started late.

“How can you even dare trying to talk bad about an event that sets the new standards”

The patronising tone continued: “We have all been to events, like concerts, games and even other Formula 1 races, that have been cancelled because of factors like weather or technical issues,” the statement said, ignoring the fact that concert organisers don’t send the crowd home, play the set anyway and trouser the cash.

A $200 credit in the Las Vegas Grand Prix shop was offered — to spectators with a single-day pass — and it wasn’t long until attendees were posting price tags to illustrate how little that bought.

“If I was a fan, I would tear the whole place down,” said Max Verstappen. A class action lawsuit has already been filed on behalf of some attendees, claiming further compensation.

Also bizarre was how much the loose water valve cover had rattled Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff, who was less concerned at the failings of the circuit and more interested in defending organisers from criticism. He ranted at a journalist who asked if the incident had given F1 a “black eye” — a reasonable question after hearing so much about how the race would redefine F1.

“It’s completely ridiculous, completely ridiculous!” blasted Wolff, who arrived in F1 as an investor, now has a 33% stake in the Mercedes team, and somewhat of a vested interest in seeing profits soar. “How can you even dare trying to talk bad about an event that sets the new standards,” he went on, in a press conference after the first session was delayed but before fans were ejected.

“And then you’re speaking about a f***ing drain cover that’s been undone, that has happened before. That’s nothing. It’s FP1. Give credit to the people that have set up this Grand Prix, that have made the sport much bigger than it ever was.”

It was nothing if not on message: ‘Pipe down and get off our highway to riches.’

Mercedes is understood to be among the teams opposed to waiving Sainz’s ten-place grid penalty for replacing a battery pack that was clobbered by the valve cover. The team’s bid for second place in the constructors’ championship, and the extra millions of pounds that come with it, was done no harm by the decision.

It is is fond of reminding us of its past partnership with Stirling Moss who famously — when driving for Vanwall — lobbied against Mike Hawthorn’s disqualification from the 1958 Portuguese Grand Prix. His rival was reinstated and Moss lost that year’s championship as a result, but had no regrets. “It’s a case of what winning means to you,” he said.

There was no danger of fair play breaking out on the Las Vegas grid. The stewards said that they had searched in vain for a way to avoid applying the penalty, and it was apparent that other teams would challenge any failure to impose it.

Ideally the rules would have accommodated a waiver in these circumstances, but it’s hard to believe that teams in the can-do F1 bubble couldn’t have found a solution, even if that involved other drivers incurring ten-place grid penalties in solidarity, putting them all back on the same level playing field.

Yes, it’s a laughable idea in modern F1, but why should it be? The Grand Prix itself showed why so many fans love Formula 1. Do they include the people in charge?