2023 Formula 1 Preview & Review.

[Fortitude]

Leclerc takes Vegas pole as Sainz’s penalty costs Ferrari a front row lock-out.
Charles Leclerc secured the first pole position in the history of the Las Vegas Grand Prix after beating team mate Carlos Sainz Jnr in qualifying.
18th November 2023.
Written by Will Wood
RaceFans

With under three minutes remaining, the field returned to the track for their final runs of qualifying. While both Ferraris had brand new soft tyres for this last attempt, Verstappen remained on tyres that were just a handful of laps old.

Leclerc improved by three tenths of a second to lower his own provisional pole time to a 1’32.726. Verstappen abandoned his fianl attempt, returning to the pit lane and guaranteeing that a Ferrari driver would be quickest. The question being whether Leclerc or Sainz would be fastest was decided when Sainz completed his lap and was 0.044s slower than his team mate, sitting in second.

That ensured Leclerc would take pole position for the inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix. Verstappen will start alongside him on the front row as Sainz’s 10-place grid penalty, a consequence of the damage he incurred due to a broken water valve cover on Thursday, means he will start from at least 12th on the grid.

‘Leclerc takes Vegas pole’;

https://www.racefans.net/2023/11/18/...-row-lock-out/


Qualifying Results – 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix
18th November 2023
by Emer Hedderman
FormulaSpy

Q3
1. Charles Leclerc Scuderia Ferrari -1:32.726
2. Carlos Sainz Scuderia Ferrari +0.044
3. Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing +0.378
4. George Russell Mercedes +0.386
5. Pierre Gasly Alpine +0.513
6. Alex Albon Williams Racing +0.597
7. Logan Sargeant Williams Racing +0.787
8. Valtteri Bottas Alfa Romeo +0.799
9. Kevin Magnussen Haas +0.811
10. Fernando Alonso Aston Martin +0.829

‘Las Vegas Grand Prix – Here are the complete results from qualifying for this weekend’s 2023 F1 World Championship race around Las Vegas’;

https://formulaspy.com/f1/qualifying...and-prix-83563


AS IT HAPPENED: Follow all the action from qualifying for the Las Vegas Grand Prix
18 November 2023
Becky Hart.
Formula One - Official Site

‘AS IT HAPPENED’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...s3qmu6Gdy.html


F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix 2023 - Qualifying - As it happened
18 November 2023
Reporting By: Connor McDonagh
Crash.Net

A recap of what happened in qualifying for the F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix.

‘As it happened’;

https://www.crash.net/f1/live/f1-las...e-live-updates


F1 Live - Las Vegas GP Qualifying Watchalong | Live timings + Commentary
18 November 2023
Racing Statistics

F1 Live Las Vegas Grand Prix Qualifying Watchalong | Sao Paolo GP Live | USA GP Quali Live F1 Live Timings, Updates and Commentary of all F1 Sessions with Racing Statistics. Lets Watchalong!

‘Qualifying Watchalong’;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKU_SgHve5U


Las Vegas GP: Charles Leclerc storms to pole with Williams the surprise package
18 Nov 2023 9:07 AM
Henry Valantine
PlanetF1.com

Charles Leclerc dominated Las Vegas Grand Prix qualifying to take pole position for the race on Saturday night, with an excellent performance over one lap. He pipped Ferrari team-mate Carlos Sainz to the P1 slot, but the Spaniard will have to drop 10 places come the race. Further back, both McLaren drivers were knocked out in Q1, before both Lewis Hamilton and Sergio Perez were knocked out in Q2, leaving a mixed-up grid for the Las Vegas Grand Prix.

Logan Sargeant, Fernando Alonso, Valtteri Bottas, Pierre Gasly and Alex Albon all improved enough to knock not only Perez into the drop zone, but Lewis Hamilton too, with the Mercedes driver qualifying 11th. The Williams duo performed excellently to line up sixth and seventh, which will become a third-row lockout for the Las Vegas Grand Prix.

‘Williams the surprise package’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/las-ve...lifying-report

[Fortitude]

Las Vegas GP: Max Verstappen WINS captivating race, with Ferrari's Charles Leclerc second and Sergio Perez third as Lando Norris crashes out early.
Max Verstappen won a captivating Las Vegas Grand Prix – a race of twists and turns, crashes, courage and mistakes that lived up to its hot billing on the Strip.
Published: 07:35, 19 November 2023
By Jonathan McEvoy for MailOnline
Mail Online

‘Viva Las Vegas,’ chorused the victor, the latest Elvis impersonator in town, from his Red Bull throne. A bet on the world champion may be the safest punt in all Sin City but it did not always look like that under the bright light of this inaugural event.

The outcome was an 18th win in 21 rounds for Verstappen, yet the most precarious and fluctuating of the season, and the Dutchman only finally pulled off the victory on lap 37 of 50 when he passed Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari in a blur of increasing inevitability.

‘Max Verstappen WINS captivating race’;

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...rez-third.html


Race Results – 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix
19th November 2023
by Emer Hedderman
FormulaSpy

Results (Classification):
1. Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing -50 laps
2. Charles Leclerc Scuderia Ferrari +2.070
3. Sergio Perez Red Bull Racing +2.241
4. Esteban Ocon Alpine +18.665
5. Lance Stroll Aston Martin +20.067
6. Carlos Sainz Scuderia Ferrari +20.834
7. Lewis Hamilton Mercedes +21.755
8. George Russell Mercedes +23.091 *
9. Fernando Alonso Aston Martin +25.964
10. Oscar Piastri McLaren +29.496

‘Las Vegas Grand Prix – Here are the provisional results from today’s 2023 F1 World Championship race around the streets of Las Vegas’;

https://formulaspy.com/f1/race-resul...and-prix-83584


AS IT HAPPENED: Follow all the action from the 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix
19 November 2023
Becky Hart
Special Correspondent.
Formula One - Official Site

‘AS IT HAPPENED’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...eW8jmQcb0.html


F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix 2023 - As it happened
19 November 2023
Reporting By: Connor McDonagh
Crash.Net

‘As it happened’;

https://www.crash.net/f1/live/f1-las...3-live-updates


Perez ‘wasn’t expecting’ Leclerc last-lap Vegas GP overtake
19 November 2023, 09:21
by Taylor Powling
Motorsport Week

Sergio Perez admits he “wasn’t expecting” the overtake that saw Charles Leclerc pip the Red Bull driver to second place on the final lap of the Las Vegas Grand Prix.

Having been caught out in qualifying and slumped to a Q2 exit, Perez eventually recovered to claim third and his first podium result since the Italian GP in September. However, Perez’s comeback bid took a substantial blow at the start when he had to pit to change his front wing after suffering damage against Valtteri Bottas’ Alfa Romeo.

“It started really difficult with a lot of damage,” Perez rued. “Initially we broke the front wing, so we basically went all the way to the back of the grid. And then progressively we were [overtaking] one-by-one and things were going well, we had really strong pace on that first stint, so we put back ourselves in contention.”

‘Perez’s comeback bid’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2023/...s-gp-overtake/


Lewis Hamilton makes Las Vegas GP feelings clear after another Mercedes F1 struggle
Lewis Hamilton started the Las Vegas Grand Prix 10th on the grid after a poor qualifying but suffered even more misfortune during the race, despite making up a few positions
19 November 2023
By Daniel Moxon Senior F1 Writer
The Mirror

"Really challenging race," he said. "I started on the hard tyre which was tricky in the beginning and, obviously, I got hit from someone behind, I think Carlos [Sainz]. I was then just trying not to hit the cars that had spun round and I lost five or six places." He quickly set about recovering and made immediate progress back up the leaderboard. But another challenge presented itself when contact with Oscar Piastri left Hamilton with a puncture.


The seven-time world champion said: "After that I was making my way back and doing great, the tyres were feeling good and the pace was strong. I went up the inside of Piastri... I don't really know exactly what happened but I got hit from behind. I think it was a racing incident, but I just felt a thud.”

"I didn't have a puncture immediately so I was accelerating but as I got alongside the pit lane entry I felt the rear was moving and thought, 'Damn, it's too late to come in'. So I had to do a whole slow lap and must have lost 40 seconds or something. I'm grateful that I was able to come back and apologies to the team for the poor qualifying yesterday. There are strengths within our car but sometimes it's just really hard to get the performance out of it."

‘More misfortune’;

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formu...esult-31475050

[Fortitude]

No refund for ejected Las Vegas GP fans – and no apologies.
F1 fans who were treated to just eight minutes of track action in FP1 on Thursday in Las Vegas and who patiently waited for FP2 to finally roll around only to be ejected from their seats will not be given a refund by F1.
18/11/2023 at 06:39
Phillip van Osten
F1i.com

Fans who had purchased tickets for Thursday's practice were understandably disappointed, with many calling for a refund or compensation. In response, single-day ticket holders were offered a $200 voucher to spend on site in Las Vegas at F1’s official merchandise store. Three-day ticket holders were offered nothing despite being deprived of a full day of action.

None of the statements released by F1 or the Las Vegas GP organisers included a hint of an apology to the fans, or the inclusion of the words ‘sorry’ or ‘regret’. It was an omission that shocked many. However, Formula 1’s reluctance to issue a formal apology for the disrupted day is likely rooted in legal and liability concerns. By offering a public apology or an admission of guilt, the organization could inadvertently open itself up to claims of negligence or wrongdoing from fans, sponsors, and other stakeholders.

F1’s approach has allowed it to acknowledge the disruption without formally admitting fault, potentially minimizing its legal exposure. Ultimately, F1's decision to prioritize its legal and financial interests over a full-fledged apology is simply a calculated risk. But it’s one that likely won’t go down well with the congregation of fans that were unceremoniously walked off the premises in the middle of the night.

‘No refund and no apologies’;

https://f1i.com/news/493995-no-refun...apologies.html


Ejected F1 fans at Las Vegas Grand Prix only offered voucher, not a refund for FP2 mess
18 Nov 2023
Connor McDonagh
Crash.Net

The portion of F1 fans who were ejected from the Las Vegas circuit ahead of second practice have been offered a voucher to spend in the store, rather than a refund, it has been revealed.

Ahead of FP3, circuit organisers confirmed that affected fans would be issued a $200 voucher to spend in the Las Vegas GP store. There was no mention of a refund - or an apology.

‘Only offered voucher’;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/104114...efund-fp2-mess


Las Vegas fans offered shop vouchers instead of refunds after ejection
18 November 4:44AM
Author Jake Nichol
Co-author Aaron Deckers
RacingNews365

Las Vegas Grand Prix organisers have offered vouchers worth $200 to Formula 1 fans with single-day tickets - as no apology or refund was provided.

A statement was released shortly after FP2 ended at 04:00 local time on Friday morning, but no mention of a potential refund or apology has been forthcoming by the promoter, with fans only due to be present being offered a $200 dollar voucher for use in the official merchandise stall.

‘Offered shop vouchers’;

https://racingnews365.com/las-vegas-...ered-voucher-a


Fans outraged after waiting hours, not being allowed at second Formula 1 practice in Las Vegas
16:51 Sat, 18 Nov 2023.
CBS Austin

KSNV spoke with fans at the first practice session who were outraged with how things went. We waited until about 12:30 and nobody was telling us anything," said Henderson resident Olivia Vantrease. "We were trying to ask them please, but it also seemed like they didn't know what was going on either. So once 12:30 came around and we figured that the race wasn't going to happen, we decided to leave."

Rich Murtaugh said he and his wife and two kids who came from New York just for Formula 1 spent $10,000 just on tickets for all three days of the event. He believes if you add flight, hotel and other costs, they will be paying closer to $30,000 for their trip to Vegas. Murtaugh said police threatened to arrest him for trespassing at one point when he wanted to stay and watch the second practice session that was pushed back–and he said he wasn't the only one.

“It just was very, very frustrating for all the money," said Murtaugh. "I mean, I understand things happen, but they should have let us you know told us earlier you know that cup was there all night. We sent it in the cold. You know me and my two kids and my wife for hour after hour after hour. We're all excited to see it and then only to be told that if we didn't leave we'd be arrested.” Murtaugh claims they were escorted out of the venue and that his family walked about four miles to get back to their hotel around 4:30 in the morning.

‘Fans outraged’;

https://cbsaustin.com/news/nation-wo...acecar-driving


No refund, no apology – Vegas GP and F1's handling of day one mess
Nov 18, 2023
by Scott Mitchell-Malm
The Race

Paying fans who witnessed fewer than 10 minutes of green flag running at the Las Vegas Grand Prix on Thursday and were not allowed to watch second practice are not being offered refunds. They are also yet to receive an apology and Thursday-only attendees have only been compensated in the form of a $200 voucher to spend at the Las Vegas GP official store.

F1 says most fans attending the event are here for all three days but several who only had a Thursday pass have informed The Race of their disappointment about a massively compromised experience. Thursday-only fans were contacted on Friday with a repeat justification of how it played out but were not apologised to.

A final declaration that this will continue to be a great event and “let’s get back to racing” also missed the point that this is not an option for those who only had tickets for Thursday. Whether they are in the minority of event-goers here or not, making any fan feel like their treatment and their disappointment can be shrugged off this easily is wrong and could easily cost F1 their support.

‘Final declaration that this will continue to be a great event and “let’s get back to racing” also missed the point that this is not an option for those who only had tickets for Thursday’;

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/l...ractice-delay/

[Fortitude]

Troubled Las Vegas Grand Prix hit by lawsuit on behalf of 35,000 fans.
Already controversial for its price tag, comparisons to non-league English football and an incident with a manhole cover, Formula One's return to Sin City has hit another sharp curve.
Sunday 19 November 2023 03:58, UK
Sky News

News of the lawsuit comes after Verstappen - reigning world champion - compared the Las Vegas Grand Prix to the fifth tier of English football, while suggesting fans just want to get "s***-faced".

"Monaco is Champions League and this is National League," he said.

"I feel like the show is important, but I like emotion. When I was a little kid, it was all about the emotion of the sport that I fell in love with and not the show. As a real racer, the show shouldn't matter."

‘Lawsuit on behalf of 35,000 fans’;

https://news.sky.com/story/troubled-...-fans-13011313


Formula One fans file a class-action lawsuit against the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
Las Vegas-based Dimopoulos Law Firm and co-counsel JK Legal & Consulting filed the lawsuit against the Las Vegas Grand Prix and its owner, Liberty Media, in Nevada state court seeking at least $30,000 in damages.
Last Updated: Nov 18, 2023 at 8:37 pm
By Mark Anderson
Associated Press
Chicago Tribune

Race officials since have offered a $200 discount at the official gift shop, but only for those who held single-night tickets Thursday. The majority of fans have three-day passes.

‘Seeking at least $30,000 in damages’;

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports...gce-story.html


Formula 1 fans file lawsuit against Las Vegas Grand Prix
Nov 18, 2023, 02:21
By The Associated Press
NBC News

LAS VEGAS — Formula One fans upset at being forced to the leave the Las Vegas Grand Prix venue early Friday morning before the start of the second practice session filed a class-action lawsuit.

Las Vegas-based Dimopoulos Law Firm and co-counsel JK Legal & Consulting filed the lawsuit against the Las Vegas Grand Prix and its owner, Liberty Media, in Nevada state court seeking at least $30,000 in damages.

‘Formula 1 fans file lawsuit’;

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/sports/...rix-rcna125864


F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix face lawsuit after practice canceled, fans escorted out
19:05 Sat, 18 Nov 2023.
by News 3 Staff
KSNV Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — The F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix is facing a lawsuit after canceling its first practice Thursday night and having thousands of fans escorted out. Dimopoulos Law Firm and co-counsel JK Legal & Consulting filed a class action lawsuit in Nevada state court Friday night. According to a statement, the action came on behalf of the 35,000 people who purchased tickets to the 'practice run' that was cut short after nine minutes without refunds.

Fans were then sent home around 1:30 a.m. before the Second Free Practice and unable to watch due to 'public safety concerns.' The lawsuit alleges breach of contract, negligence, and deceptive trade practices against the defendants.

‘Lawsuit after practice canceled, fans escorted out’;

https://news3lv.com/news/local/f1-la...s-escorted-out


Las Vegas GP hit with lawsuit over 'deprived' fans who were forced to leave early
21:07 Sat, 18 Nov 2023.
Callum McAvoy
Metro.co.uk

A class action lawsuit has been filed against the Formula One Las Vegas Grand Prix in relation to fans who were forced to leave their seats early. F1 is back in Sin City after more than 40 years at a brand-new street circuit – an event the sport’s bosses have gone all out for.

Fans were understandably furious, more so because the Las Vegas Grand Prix is by far the most expensive race on the calendar, with many paying thousands of pounds to attend. Now, the Las Vegas Grand Prix has been hit with a lawsuit that alleges breach of contract, negligence, and deceptive trade practices.

Dimopoulos Law Firm and co-counsel JK Legal & Consulting filed the suit on Friday in Nevada District Court on behalf of 35,000 fans who purchased tickets to Thursday’s practice sessions. ‘We will vindicate the rights of the fans that traveled great distances and paid small fortunes to attend, but were deprived of the experience,’ Dimopoulos Law Firm owner and lead attorney Steve Dimopoulos said in a statement.

‘Class action lawsuit’;

https://metro.co.uk/2023/11/18/f1-la...o=newsnow-feed

[Fortitude]

F1 fans tear down view-blocking screens during Las Vegas GP.
Formula 1 fans watching the Las Vegas Grand Prix tore down controversial track view-blocking screens along the public areas of the city’s famous Strip during the returning race, Motorsport.com has learned.
19th November 2023, 12:32
AUTHORAlex Kalinauckas
Motorsport.com

READER COMMENTS:

Liverian
Good! I have a local park which I walk through most days, take my kids to, etc. Every year they have an 'exclusive' event where they fence off the park, put barriers up and only allow access to people wealthy enough to enter - denying access to most local residents, so I fully support these fans tearing down the wealth divide screens!

BerthaDeCool
Overcharging for under-sold tickets then blocking a site or two where normal people/tourists can watch for free with no danger to themselves or the drivers.
And yet Liberty say they're trying to attract new fans?
The only (minimal) damage her is to the promoters' pocketbooks.

Vegas_Observer
Instead of F1, rename it to CF1 for Cluster F*** One. Next year they can call it CF2, the next CF3 and so forth. Months of road closures, employees need hrs to get to or from work for this? 3 days of racing? Just talked to a few friends who work on the strip. They actually made less money than a regular weekend. And the F1 clowns are going to put the locals thru this every yr for the next decade? Guess what happens next year when most of the employees call off.

‘Controversial track view-blocking screens’;

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/f...s-gp/10549048/


Fans are suing Formula 1 after being forced to leave grandstands in Las Vegas
NOVEMBER 19, 20232:44 PM ET
By Joe Hernandez
NPR

"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," F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali and Las Vegas Grand Prix CEO Renee Wilm said in a statement. "It happens, and we hope people will understand," they added.

Not all of them did. A group of fans is now suing the Las Vegas Grand Prix and owner Liberty Media in a lawsuit seeking at least $30,000 in damages, The Associated Press reported. Neither the Dimopoulos Law Firm nor JK Legal & Consulting, who represent the plaintiffs, immediately responded to NPR's request for comment. Formula 1 gave attendees who held single-day tickets to Thursday's events a $200 voucher to the Las Vegas Grand Prix gift shop, journalist Chris Medland reported, while those who held three-day passes received nothing.

"It happens, and we hope people will understand," they added. Not all of them did’;

https://www.npr.org/2023/11/19/12140...gas-grand-prix


'Deprived of the experience': F1 fans file lawsuit over Las Vegas Grand Prix
Sunday 19 November 2023 at 10:03am
ITV

Organisers of the Las Vegas Grand Prix are facing a class action lawsuit following the chaos to the start of this weekend’s race on the strip.

Spectators who held a $200 general admission ticket for Thursday’s two practice sessions have since been offered a voucher for the same amount to be redeemed on merchandise. But those in attendance on a three-day pass – the cheapest of which cost $500 (£400) – will not receive any compensation.

On Friday, Nevada-based Dimopoulos Law Firm and co-counsel JK Legal & Consulting filed a lawsuit with the Nevada District Court seeking damages for the 35,000 paying spectators. “We will vindicate the rights of the fans that travelled great distances and paid small fortunes to attend, but were deprived of the experience,” said Dimopoulos Law Firm owner Steve Dimopoulos in a statement.

'Deprived of the experience';

https://www.itv.com/news/2023-11-19/...gas-grand-prix


Las Vegas Grand Prix: Formula One fans file class-action lawsuit
November 18, 2023 08:50 PM
by Associated Press
Washington Examiner

Formula One fans upset at being forced to leave the Las Vegas Grand Prix venue early Friday morning before the start of the second practice session filed a class-action lawsuit.

Las Vegas-based Dimopoulos Law Firm and co-counsel JK Legal & Consulting filed the lawsuit against the Las Vegas Grand Prix and its owner, Liberty Media, in Nevada state court seeking at least $30,000 in damages.

‘Formula One fans file class-action lawsuit’;

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/n...action-lawsuit


F1 and Las Vegas GP hit with lawsuit after opening-day shambles
Sunday 19th November, 2023 - 9:34am
By Ian Parkes
Speedcafe

Those fans in possession of a Thursday-only ticket, representing just six percent of those in attendance, were offered a $200 voucher to spend in an official store as compensation. Spectators with a three-day ticket were offered nothing. That has resulted in a Las Vegas law firm, Dimopoulos, with JK Legal & Consulting serving as co-counsel, filing a suit with the Nevada District Court on Friday on behalf of 35,000 fans who had purchased tickets for Thursday’s practice.

Five individuals have been named as plaintiffs in the suit against Liberty Media, owner and promoter of the Las Vegas GP, and TAB Contractors Inc., a company charged with track maintenance. The lawsuit, seeking $30,000 for each fan for ‘general’ and ‘special’ damages’ given associated travel and hotel expenditure, alleges breach of contract, negligence, and deceptive trade practices against the defendants.

Lead lawyer Steve Dimopoulos said: “We will vindicate the rights of the fans that travelled great distances and paid small fortunes to attend, but were deprived of the experience.” In response, when contacted by Speedcafe, a spokesperson for LVGP said: “We cannot comment on the litigation. Our focus is on ensuring that our fans have an entertaining experience in a safe and secure environment which is always our top priority.”

‘Opening-day shambles’;

https://www.speedcafe.com/2023/11/19...gp-f1-lawsuit/


Verstappen tears into Las Vegas organisation after practice shambles
18 November 1:00PM
Author Jake Nichol
Co-author Aaron Deckers
RacingNews365

Max Verstappen is one of the most outspoken drivers in the history of Formula 1, maybe even the most, with his comments on the Las Vegas Grand Prix particularly strong, especially for the reigning World Champion.

He described the opening ceremony as making drivers look like "clowns" and also that the event was 99% for the show and just 1% sporting event. And that was even before the on-track shambles of FP1, and the embarrassment of FP2 when fans were evicted from grandstands at 01:30 local time as security and other staff had finished their shifts.

He described the track as boring - describing Monaco as something all tracks should aspire to. "This is the Eredivisie, while Monaco is the Champions League," he told media including RacingNews365, referring to the Dutch top-flight football league and the European Cup, respectively. "There's nothing wrong with the Eredivisie, by the way, but everyone wants to win the Champions League, right? How [the event is put together] and how it looks, there is nothing wrong with it, but [the Champions League] is top of course."

‘Verstappen tears into Las Vegas organisation’;

https://racingnews365.com/verstappen...-total-blamage


F1 a victim of its own hubris in latest Grand Prix debacle as Las Vegas shambles unfolds
17 Nov 2023 4:00 PM
Thomas Maher
PlanetF1.com

Formula 1’s much-anticipated Las Vegas Grand Prix has got started in the worst possible circumstances – and it’s all entirely self-inflicted. F1’s return to Sin City sought to banish the demons of the past when the much-maligned Caesars Palace circuit held two races back in the early 1980s – the tiny car park track doing little to capture the imagination of the American public.

High on the swell of huge audience figures as American media company Liberty Media has helped push the sport into the consciousness of their home country, the Las Vegas Grand Prix is the first taken on with F1 itself as the organiser and promoter – dealing directly with the city of Las Vegas to incorporate some of the most iconic aesthetics of the city into the F1 track.

Having given itself an incredibly tight deadline to make the ‘inaugural’ Las Vegas Grand Prix happen in late 2023, fears about the readiness of the F1 track appeared to be allayed approaching the weekend as it became evident that, somehow, everything had been built in time.

‘F1 a victim of its own hubris’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/f1-a-v...-vegas-debacle

[Fortitude]

Ferrari to discuss Sainz damage compensation ‘in private’ with F1.
Scuderia boss Fred Vasseur was left fuming by the situation and will seek compensation from Formula 1 – the promoter of the Las Vegas GP – for the costs incurred by the team due to the water valve incident.
20/11/2023 at 08:23
Michael Delaney
F1i.com

Just minutes into last Thursday’s opening session, Sainz ran over a loose water valve cover while running down the Strip. The car’s sheer energy threw up the valve cover’s concrete frame, which inflicted terminal damage to the Spaniard’s chassis but also to the SF-23’s power unit, control electronics and energy store.

The incident led to the cancellation of FP1 and to a thorough inspection of the track, with FP2 going ahead after a delay of several hours, with no spectators allowed in the grandstands which has led to a class action lawsuit being filed against the promoters of the Las Vegas GP on behalf of 35,000 single day ticket holders.

Adding insult to injury for Ferrari, Sainz – who qualified second behind teammate Charles Leclerc – was handed a 10-place grid penalty for taking on a new ES element as there are no provisions in the sporting regulations that allow the stewards to waive the sanction in a case of force majeure.

‘Fred Vasseur was left fuming’;

https://f1i.com/news/494401-ferrari-...e-with-f1.html


SAINZ ON HIS TRIUMPH OVER ‘THOSE WHO WANTED ME TO BE PENALISED’
After receiving a 10-place grid penalty, Carlos Sainz started in P12 at the Las Vegas Grand Prix. His weekend didn't get much better after being involved in the turn one incident, having to battle tyre graining, and fighting his way through the field. The Ferrari driver came home in P6
November 20, 2023
Rhiannon Temporal
FormulaNerds

Carlos Sainz blames oil from the drivers’ parade for the turn one incident, but is “very happy” to finish above “those who wanted me to be penalised”

If there is one driver on the grid who will look back on the maiden Las Vegas Grand Prix with negative memories, it will be Carlos Sainz. First, the Ferrari driver received a 10-place grid penalty for taking a third energy store outside of his allocation. This was after he fell victim to a loose drain cover in free practice one.

The Scuderia tried to appeal for a ‘derogation of the Sporting Regulations’ but was denied, much to the chagrin of Ferrari Team Principal Fred Vasseur. On race day, the Spanish driver started P12 on the grid after qualifying P2. But Sainz’s bad luck wouldn’t end there as he was involved in the turn one incident on the opening lap. However, Sainz was able to battle through the field to finish P6.

“Very happy” to finish above “those who wanted me to be penalised”;

https://www.formulanerds.com/news/sa...-be-penalised/


Ferrari fury: Vasseur’s million-dollar outrage over Vegas damage
20th November 2023, 07:04
Andrew Maitland
Grandpx.news

n the aftermath of the Las Vegas GP, the saga of mishaps and misfortunes continues to unfold. Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari’s team boss, is at the center of a brewing storm, contemplating seeking compensation for an incident that significantly impacted Carlos Sainz’s race weekend and may have far-reaching financial repercussions for the team.

The controversy stems from a manhole cover incident that disrupted the opening day’s track action. This mishap not only caused the cancellation of track sessions but also led to the furious ejection of spectators from the venue. Compounding the issue, affected ticket-holders were offered a mere $200 voucher instead of a full refund, sparking a class-action lawsuit against race organisers and F1 owner Liberty Media.

The financial implications of the incident are staggering. The damage to Sainz’s Ferrari, including the race chassis, engine, battery, and gearbox, is estimated at around $1.5 million. This damage led to a ten-grid drop penalty for Sainz, adding to the team’s woes. Vasseur, expressing his frustration, said, “This will cost us a fortune.” The incident’s timing is particularly critical as it could affect Ferrari’s standing in the constructors’ championship, potentially costing them millions if Mercedes maintains its lead.

‘Vasseur’s million-dollar outrage’;

https://grandpx.news/ferrari-fury-va...-vegas-damage/


Sainz blames ‘unacceptable’ oil spill for opening corner carnage
Monday 20th November, 2023 - 9:55am
By Mat Coch
Speedcafe

In the minutes before the grand prix got underway, officials worked to clean up an oil spill on the left-hand side of the starting grid, a result of the classic cars used for the drivers’ parade. “I saw a lot of oil from the cars that we used to do the drivers’ parade, which is another thing for the FIA to look at,” Sainz observed.

“I think that it’s not fair. All the oil was on the inside line. Apart from the dirty track already being there, in front of all that we put cars that are leaking oil into the track one hour before the race. It is, again, unacceptable. That probably caused a lot of the crashes into Turn 1.”

‘Unacceptable oil spill for opening corner carnage’;

https://www.speedcafe.com/2023/11/20...orner-carnage/


Vasseur blames 'worse case' timing for Leclerc loss
19 November 4:20PM
Author Rory Mitchell
Co-author Aaron Deckers
RacingNews365

Ferrari Team Principal Frederic Vasseur believes the timing of the Safety Car during the Las Vegas Grand Prix made Charles Leclerc lose out on a potential win. The Monegasque had completed his pit stop four laps before it was brought out, due to debris on track after contact between Max Verstappen and George Russell on Lap 25 at Turn 12.

It was a 12th pole in a row Leclerc has failed to win from - but Vasseur was left ruing the timing of the deployment. "On our side it's a strange feeling when you do the pole position, you overtake three times the Red Bull and you finish P2. It's not usual," Vasseur told media, including RacingNews365.

"Also the timing of the Safety Car was the worst-case scenario for us, four laps after our pit-stop but it is what it is. Charles did a good job but I think even Carlos, if you consider the FP1 story plus the incident in Turn 1, he's P20 and he's coming back to P6."

‘Timing of the Safety Car’;

https://racingnews365.com/vasseur-bl...r-leclerc-loss


Ferrari want answers over red flag delay which led to “millions” in damage
Formula 1
Posted on 19th November 2023, 14:59
Written by Keith Collantine and Claire Cottingham

Ferrari intend to have discussions about a claim for compensation over the damage done to Carlos Sainz Jnr’s car when he struck a loose water valve cover during first practice for the Las Vegas Grand Prix. The team wants to know why the session was not immediately red-flagged when the broken cover was noticed. Team principal Frederic Vasseur said it caused “millions” in damage, in addition to causing Sainz to receive a 10-place grid penalty for using his third energy store of the season, exceeding the maximum allocation.

The incident occured eight minutes into the opening practice session at the new Las Vegas Strip Circuit. Yellow flags were displayed at the Strip before Sainz arrived at the broken cover. Pierre Gasly, Alexander Albon and Fernando Alonso all passed through the area before Sainz arrived and hit the loose cover. At that point the session was still under yellow flags, and was only red-flagged after Sainz came to a stop.

Vasseur said the session should have been stopped more quickly. “The main issue for me on this case is that when you put the first yellow flag, it means that you saw something,” he said. “You don’t put the yellow flag by anticipation. It means that the guy who put the yellow flag – and the yellow flag obviously on my board, this is coming from the race control – it means they saw something and then took one minute before putting the red flag. When it’s a straight line and you have metallic parts and [drivers] are at 340kph.”

‘Ferrari want answers over red flag delay’;

https://www.racefans.net/2023/11/19/...ons-in-damage/

[Fortitude]

Verstappen takes swipe at Las Vegas GP after INSULTING F1 decision.
…stating that he would 'tear the whole place down' if offered a $200 voucher instead of a refund.
Sunday 19 November 2023 20:42
Anna Malyon
GPFans

Instead of providing a refund, the Las Vegas Grand Prix announced that fans with single-day tickets would receive a $200 (£160) voucher to spend in the official shop. This sparked outrage, with even three-time world champion Verstappen criticising the decision, claiming that he would not tolerate such a situation.

"Then they make money from it too," said Verstappen to De Telegraaf. "Awesome! If I were a fan, I would tear the whole place down. This can't be true, can it?" Spectators waited for five hours before being told to leave from the circuit at 1:30 am, with fans speaking to Sky Sports F1 journalist Craig Slater, saying it was "disappointing."

"Ridiculous," said one fan. "We waited for four hours, and they gave us hope, they said yeah, we're going to have the race. Then nothing happened and now they're telling us to leave. We came from Los Angeles, we flew only for today," another fan added. "We spent the money for the airplane, the tickets for this [the race] and nothing. As of now, individuals with full weekend tickets will receive no compensation for the disrupted Friday, despite having paid hundreds or even thousands. “

'Tear the whole place down';

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/10...as-grand-prix/


Every word of Toto Wolff's furious Las Vegas GP rant as reporter argues "this is rubbish"
The suggestion that delays to practice at the Las Vegas Grand Prix might be a "black eye" to Formula 1 ahead of its new glamour event did not go down well with Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff
09:47 Fri, 17 Nov 2023.
By Daniel Moxon Senior F1 Writer
The Mirror

Toto Wolff lost his cool as he furiously clashed with reporters at the Las Vegas Grand Prix in a bad-tempered press conference. Asked if it was a "black eye" to Formula 1, the Austrian replied: "That is not a 'black eye' – this is nothing. We are [on] Thursday night, we have a free practice session one that we're not doing. They're going to seal the drain covers and nobody's going to talk about that tomorrow morning anymore."

At that point several journalists began mumbling among themselves in reaction to Wolff's answer. One went as far as to say aloud: "This is absolute rubbish, nine minutes of running." And Wolff appeared to hear that comment which led to him raising his voice and losing his temper, forcing Sky Sports to censor his foul language as they broadcast the full press conference.

"It's FP1 – how can you even dare trying to talk bad about an event that sets new standards to everything?" he raged. "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 this sport much bigger than it ever was. 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. ForCarlos [Sainz], it could have been dangerous.”

‘Toto Wolff lost his cool’;

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formu...as-gp-31461405


Max Verstappen hits out at Toto Wolff: ‘I don’t expect anything less from him’
18 Nov 2023 11:45 AM
Jamie Woodhouse
PlanetF1.com

Max Verstappen says Toto Wolff would have changed his tune if it were his Mercedes car damaged in Las Vegas, following his rant at a journalist criticising the drain dramas that wrecked Carlos Sainz’s race weekend. Verstappen acknowledged that loose drains are not a new issue to crop up on a Formula 1 street track, though that does not mean grounds for criticism was not there.

And if it had happened to Mercedes, Verstappen said Wolff absolutely would have been up in arms on the opposite side of the fence. “That is true of course, that it happened before, but you’re supposed to learn from that,” Verstappen told Viaplay in response to Wolff’s rant. “You know that when you go to a street circuit, such things could cause problems. So you should be prepared for that.”

“And I think if it was his car, he would have spoken differently. But I don’t expect anything less from him. We would have been very angry too, like Ferrari. Absolutely, the entire car is ruined. Carlos also said that he didn’t feel his legs for a couple of seconds, so the accident could have been a lot worse.”

“If it had happened to Mercedes…”;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/max-ve...drain-reaction


Wolff turns on F1 journalist in foul-mouthed ‘black eye’ rant.
Friday 17 November 2023 10:57
Cal Gaunt
GPFans

But Mercedes team principal Wolff has demanded that the organisers are given credit for their efforts rather than being criticised in the press.

"Have you ever spoken good of someone? Ever written a good word? You should about all these people that have been out here. Liberty has done an awesome job and just because in FP1 a drain cover has come undone, we shouldn't be moaning.”

His comments came in the same presser that saw Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur label the incident that led to FP1's abandonment 'unacceptable'.

"Have you ever spoken good of someone?”;

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/10...in-cover-rant/


Toto Wolff digs up old graves as Mercedes boss makes cutting comment after Las Vegas GP
20:18 Sun, 19 Nov 2023.
By Liam Llewellyn
Daily and Sunday Express

Toto Wolff took a swipe at former race director Michael Masi after his controversial actions at the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. On November 26 F1 will head to the Yas Marina Circuit for the final race of the season and it will be the last chance for teams to score some more points before another gruelling year comes to an end.

Wolff has not forgotten how Masi’s contentious decision in the latter stages of the race two years ago influenced the outcome and allowed Verstappen to win his first title. Speaking about heading to Abu Dhabi after Sunday’s Las Vegas GP, Wolff could not resist making some comments aimed at Masi indirectly.

“I think we’re going there pretty much equal on points. With a proper race director, so that should be fine," the Austrian told reporters. “Then let’s race. It’s all down to the last weekend. They are very quick and done a good job. I think we could have been on par today. But the result shows something different. To be honest, it’s good to have P2 as a positive to finish the season, but P2, P3 for me there is little… it doesn’t make me particularly cheerful anyway."

‘Toto Wolff digs up old graves’;

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...as-Vegas-GP-f1


JONATHAN MCEVOY: Toto Wolff's petulant meltdown will do nothing to win over hearts and minds in Sin City... as Formula One's American owners Liberty Media are put to the test
Published: 22:30, 17 November 2023
By Jonathan McEvoy for MailOnline
Mail Online

You would struggle to find more petulance from a professionally urbane charmer than Toto Wolff exhibited in his response to some pretty reasonable questions over what was quickly descending into the Las Vegas Grand Prix debacle.

Whereas world champion Max Verstappen could claim to have been vindicated in his verdict on Las Vegas’s evolving first dance in front of Sin City’s spectacular backdrop by calling it ‘99 per cent show and one per cent sport’, the Mercedes team principal demonstrated how hard and fast some of Formula One’s money men will run with the sport’s American owners, Liberty Media, come what may.

Yet Wolff, in contrast to Verstappen, was unconcerned by the unfolding mess of the practice sessions that had seen Sainz’s red car suck the manhole cover out of the tarmac at 198mph. Wolff’s high-handed dismissal of developments perhaps showed the pressure he is feeling at the ailing Mercedes team.

‘Toto Wolff's petulant meltdown’;

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...rty-Media.html


F1 pundit makes concerning comment about Mercedes boss Toto Wolff after Las Vegas GP
Toto Wolff and Mercedes endured yet another tricky weekend at the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
13:54, Mon, Nov 20, 2023
By Harry Smith
Daily and Sunday Express

IndyCar and NASCAR icon turned F1 pundit Danica Patrick has suggested that Toto Wolff looks “defeated” as Mercedes continue to struggle against the likes of Red Bull, Ferrari and McLaren. Discussing the state of play at Mercedes with the Sky Sports F1 team, Patrick said: “They’ve got so much better throughout the year, but nothing to show for it. You can sense [that] Toto looked defeated, frustrated, tired maybe. Christian [Horner] was talking about the timing of this event.”

“It’s been a long year, everybody is wearing down. So I’m sure it’s feeling extra heavy to them now, especially when they have bad days. Especially when they get glimmers of hope.”

Things were looking up for the team after they introduced their critical new floor upgrade in time for the United States Grand Prix in Texas with Hamilton pushing Verstappen all the way that afternoon before his unfortunate disqualification, but Mercedes’ hopes of ending the season with a win unravelled in Brazil.

‘Toto Wolff looks “defeated” as Mercedes continue to struggle’;

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...1-Las-Vegas-GP

[Fortitude]

Vasseur fires Mercedes warning: 'We have the momentum'.
Ferrari Team Principal Frederic Vasseur has laid down the gauntlet to Mercedes ahead of their season-finale battle for second place in the Constructors'.
20 November 4:00PM
Author Jake Nichol
Co-author Aaron Deckers
RacingNews365

Mercedes heads to Abu Dhabi on 392 points, just four ahead of Ferrari having seen its lead whittled down from 20 in the Las Vegas Grand Prix. It follows a trend of Ferrari gradually eating into Mercedes' lead over recent races, with Mercedes scoring 44 points since the United States GP, with Ferrari on 66 over the same period.

In 2022, Ferrari edged Mercedes in the battle for runner-up behind Red Bull, with boss Vasseur believing the Maranello squad has all the momentum with its SF-23 machine over the W14. "If you consider that we were 60 points them a few races ago, we are on a good path," Vasseur told media including RacingNews365.

"But Abu Dhabi will be a different story, four points is nothing or a lot”;

https://racingnews365.com/vasseur-fi...e-the-momentum


Mercedes ready for Abu Dhabi showdown with Ferrari: ‘Let’s race!’
20/11/2023 at 09:52
Phillip van Osten
F1i.com

Mercedes and Ferrari are only separated by four points ahead of F1’s season finale next weekend in Abu Dhabi, but Toto Wolff is looking forward to his team’s showdown with the Scuderia. "Lewis got hit twice and George had a mistake. That race summarises our season," rued a frustrated Wolff.

"A quick car that is able to fight for a podium. Lewis was doing [Charles] Leclerc’s times as well in free air. But then obviously he was involved in two accidents, and then George with Max, [so] you can’t win, you can’t be in the front."

Let’s race!’;

https://f1i.com/news/494407-mercedes...lets-race.html


Horner: Ferrari in ‘no man’s land’ with Vegas GP Safety Car
12:09 Mon, 20 Nov 2023.
by Taylor Powling
Motorsport Week

Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner has sympathised with Ferrari for ending up in “no man’s land” when the Safety Car was deployed during the Las Vegas Grand Prix.

Ferrari team boss Frederic Vasseur admitted the side didn’t even contemplate pitting Leclerc under the second Safety Car – a decision which Horner could understand.

Asked if Ferrari could have won if they replicated Red Bull’s strategy by stopping under the Safety Car, Horner said: “It’s very difficult for them to, you know, when you look at them, they’d been on the Hard tyre five laps at that point. To stop again for another new tyre after five laps, you can understand they’re a little bit in no man’s land.”

‘Ferrari in no man’s land’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2023/...gp-safety-car/


Leclerc bemoans Las Vegas safety car as he felt ‘the win was ours’
Tuesday 21st November, 2023 - 3:37pm
By Ian Parkes
Speedcafe

Charles Leclerc was left with “mixed emotions” following a Las Vegas Grand Prix in which he felt the introduction of a safety car wrecked his victory bid, only to grab the runner-up spot at the death with a late-race pass on Sergio Perez. Following the race, Leclerc conceded to “mixed emotions”, adding: “On one hand, I’m extremely happy with the performance. We didn’t leave anything on the table. Until the last corner of the last lap, I gave it my all and managed to get that second place.”

“On the other hand, I’m obviously disappointed because I really believe that without the safety car, the win was ours, because we had a really good first stint on the medium and the hard was five laps newer than Max. I had a good four, five laps in order to bring them up to temperature, and we did a really good job on that, so I was really confident the win was ours.”

“But, unfortunately, there was the safety car. Max and Checo stopped and I stayed out on my five-lap used hard, which was not too much, five laps. But the problem is that when they cool down behind a safety car, to then restart a used tyre is incredibly difficult with those temperatures, and there we lost the race. But the last part of the race was extremely fun. That gave me a lot of adrenaline inside the car, and I really enjoyed it.”

‘The win was ours’;

https://www.speedcafe.com/2023/11/21...gp-safety-car/


Perez: Leclerc 'got me back for Turkey 2020' with late overtake
20 November 6:20PM
Author Rory Mitchell
RacingNews365

Sergio Perez joked that Charles Leclerc 'got me back' following the Las Vegas Grand Prix with his final lap overtake. The Mexican managed to achieve his goal set by the team of finishing second in the Drivers' Championship, sealing a historic one-two for Red Bull with his third place, but was passed by Leclerc three corners from home with a lunge at the end of the Strip.

Leclerc pulled nearly 7G in braking deceleration force in the move, with Perez falling from the lead to third over Max Verstappen passed the duo. Perez felt the move was 'payback' over a late move in the low-grip/wet conditions of the 2020 Turkish Grand Prix, and that he did have a chance to win the race.

‘Nearly 7G in braking deceleration force’;

https://racingnews365.com/perez-on-d...om-turkey-2020


Martin Brundle demands F1 rule change in Sky Sports pundit's verdict on unjust penalty
Former Formula 1 driver Martin Brundle was in the United States to watch the inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix unfold as part of his role as a pundit for Sky Sports
• 19:22, 20 Nov 2023
By Tom Blow Sports Writer
The Mirror.

Martin Brundle believes Formula 1's stewards should be allowed to use their common sense after Carlos Sainz was handed a 10-place penalty at the Las Vegas Grand Prix. Sainz was punished after a loose metal cover on the track surface smashed into the floor of his Ferrari during a practice session on Friday. The freak incident caused significant damage to the car's engine, energy store, control electronics and survival cell.

Ferrari were forced to change the energy store, but that wasn't permitted. Considering the damage was the result of a track error, Ferrari asked for a derogation of the sporting regulations. Yet the stewarding panel insisted these regulations "must be applied".

Sainz was understandably furious with the panel's decision, with Ferrari's team chief Fred Vasseur calling it "unacceptable". Brundle has plenty of sympathy and believes F1's rules must be changed to allow common sense to be used when applicable.

‘Formula 1's stewards should be allowed to use their common sense’;

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formu...rrari-31486796

[Fortitude]

'F1 disaster': Las Vegas locals say elite race was no economic boost.
“We call it the F1 disaster,” Bohn said. “It has affected my business with all the construction. Over the last year, I am down over $3 million in sales.”
Posted at 1:56 PM, Nov 21, 2023
By: Jaewon Jung
KJRH-TV

LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — The Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix race is now in our rearview mirror. However, some locals still deal with ripple effects from the event and its preparations.

This includes Wade Bohn, the owner of Jay’s Market on Flamingo Road and Koval Lane. It’s adjacent to the temporary bridge built to control traffic from the F1 construction, but there are talks about making this bridge permanent. According to Bohn, the store lost more in revenue during the last year than during the pandemic.

He’s even had to cut his staff from 12 employees to 5. Bohn said if F1 has the same impact on his business next year, he may have to close shop. “Everything bypasses me on Flamingo,” he said. “My customer count runs about 550 a day where it used to be somewhere between 2 to 3 thousand.”

“We call it the F1 disaster”;

https://www.kjrh.com/f1-disaster-las...economic-boost


Coulthard: F1 chiefs likely annoyed by Verstappen criticism
21/11/2023 at 18:47
Phillip van Osten
F1i.com

David Coulthard thinks that Formula 1’s top brass was likely angered by Max Verstappen’s scathing criticism last week of the Las Vegas Grand Prix. Speaking to Channel 4 last weekend in Las Vegas, Coulthard suggested that Formula 1 probably wished it could put a gag order on Verstappen.


“Of course, they won’t like it”, Coultard said. “They will just think about bottom-line investment. They are cold, hard business people, at the end of the day. One shoe doesn’t fit all. If Max fits into the grumpy, 85-year-old ‘freaky Friday’ - if that’s who his character is, then be true to yourself.”

Asked if Red Bull team boss Christian Horner might have intervened and asked his driver to adhere to the guidelines, Coulthard replied: “Yes, I’m sure he would have had that conversation. But Max believes in freedom of speech.” Indeed, the 26-year-old bold racer is very much his own man when it comes to expressing his thoughts and opinions.

‘F1 chiefs likely annoyed by Verstappen criticism’;

https://f1i.com/news/494526-coulthar...criticism.html


Christian Horner’s F1 demand in X-rated Las Vegas Grand Prix assessment
21 Nov 2023 8:00 PM
Sam Cooper
PlanetF1.com

Christian Horner believes everyone is leaving Las Vegas “slightly f***ed” after the inaugural race on the world famous Strip. Especially after the events of Thursday, team personnel were asked to work until 6AM in the morning before trying to sleep during the day. Horner suggested that needs changing, even if it meant cutting off the European audience.

“It’s been a big event and, like in anything, there’ll be a bit of a debrief to go through what was good and what needs a bit of polishing,” Horner said. “When you look at the interest there has been in this race, it has been phenomenal. As a first event, of course, there are going to be many lessons to learn.”

“I think one of the things we look at is the running schedule because it’s been brutal for the team, and all the men and women behind the scenes. I think everybody’s leaving Vegas slightly f**ked.

‘X-rated Las Vegas Grand Prix assessment’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/christ...rix-assessment


F1 drivers call for time change for Las Vegas Grand Prix
11.21.2023
SportsBusiness Daily

F1 drivers have requested that the timing of the Las Vegas Grand Prix, from qualifying, the race and where it falls in the calendar, “be amended for next year,” according to Rebecca Clancy of the London TIMES. The race was held at 10pm PT on Saturday, which "worked well for the casinos, with their support essential if the circuit was to include the famous Strip."

For the Vegas race, the drivers were sent out at 2:30am for another 90 minutes for practice Friday, with many “feeling jaded.” George Russell admitted to four naps and he was "not alone in being tired." Daniel Ricciardo said that the 4am finish had left people “delirious.” The schedule was "simply too late."

‘F1 drivers call for time change’;

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.co...tionSource=sbd


Hundreds of celebs, a $500MILLION spend... and one loose drain cover that threatened to scupper it all! Inside the world's most expensive F1 event EVER in Las Vegas - and why it could turn out to be the best race on the calendar
Published: 17:00, 21 November 2023
By Ben Nagle For Dailymail.Com
Mail Online

While the entertainment capital of the world is buzzing with tourists, it has not been plain sailing for the locals, with one taxi driver telling DailyMail.com that they have endured six months of disruption and road closures as the city got itself ready for this three-day event. 'My prediction is that they'll only do one year, and never come back,' he tells me. In reality, like it or lump it, Formula One is here for the long haul.

Eight minutes was all it took. Eight minutes for the entire race weekend to be thrown into jeopardy... and all because of a loose drain cover on Las Vegas Boulevard. It had all turned into a bit of a mess, and it could be an expensive one too, with a class action lawsuit soon filed on behalf of the 35,000 fans that were turfed out. The next morning, a statement was released by the CEOs of F1 and the Vegas GP. It was 649 words, but 'sorry' wasn't one.

‘Hundreds of celebs, a $500MILLION spend... and one loose drain cover that threatened to scupper it all!’;

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...Las-Vegas.html


‘No fun’ or ‘fun’? ‘Solid’ or ‘sketchy’? Drivers’ verdicts on the Las Vegas F1 track
Formula 1
Posted on 21st November 2023, 16:59
Written by Keith Collantine and Claire Cottingham
RaceFans

Was the Las Vegas Strip Circuit a simplistic course designed to encourage DRS passes? Or a surprisingly challenging and thrillingly fast street track? The venue for the first Las Vegas Grand Prix provoked different responses from the drivers, partly coloured by how successful they were or how well their cars suited the layout.

Before the race many had been concerned the track wouldn’t be very challenging to drive and that despite its many long straights overtaking would prove difficult as the surface lacked grip and the DRS would not be very powerful.

After the grand prix some of those views had changed. Most drivers found overtaking was possible, perhaps partly due to the extension of the DRS zone on the Strip before final practice. Concerns over the lack of grip remained, however, and a few drivers had specific ideas on how to improve the layout.

‘No fun’ or ‘fun’?;

https://www.racefans.net/2023/11/21/...egas-f1-track/

[Fortitude]

Huge financial implications and F1 careers on the line in Abu Dhabi finale.
There’s a huge amount to play for heading into the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend, with teams desperate to fight for every point come Sunday.
22 Nov 2023 6:00 AM
Henry Valantine
PlanetF1.com

The tight fight for ‘Best of the Rest’ behind Red Bull. “The one that I might be proud of is getting second for the team, just knowing how hard everyone’s worked back at the factory,” Hamilton told Channel 4. It’s been a tough two years for everybody, but the fact that we are fighting for second in the Championship is pretty amazing to recover in that way.”

The P7 Constructors’ fight will end – with huge financial implications. At the lower end of the standings, the good thing to see is that there has been no out-and-out backmarker all season long, making qualifying unpredictable and the racing exciting.
The in-house driver battles at Ferrari and Alpine still need a winner. Sainz and Leclerc have already had a mention earlier on, but the closeness of their battle in the Drivers’ standings has gone somewhat under the radar this season – with the Spaniard 12 points ahead of Leclerc heading into the final round.

A final opportunity for teams and drivers to get leave 2023 with silverware. Could a surprise be sprung or will the Red Bull/Verstappen juggernaut roll on one last time with one of the most dominant combinations in Formula 1 history? There’s only one way to find out.
One last chance to impress for Logan Sargeant. Only one seat remains unconfirmed for the 2024 grid and Logan Sargeant did his chances the world of good by qualifying a career-best P6 in Las Vegas last time out.

‘Huge financial implications and F1 careers on the line’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/abu-dh...f1-2023-season


What’s left to play for in F1’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix season finale?
21 Nov 2023
Lewis Larkam
Crash.Net

Mercedes v Ferrari down to the wire. Can Mercedes hold off a resurgent Ferrari at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in the battle to secure runner-up spot in F1 2023? With the drivers’ and constructors’ world championship titles both sorted, the biggest score left to settle in 2023 is the battle for second place behind Red Bull.

The battle for P4. While the championship top-three may already be cemented, there is a fascinating fight behind over fourth place in the drivers’ standings.
Millions at stake at the bottom. An important scrap is raging towards the bottom of the constructors’ championship, with four teams involved.

Mercedes' last chance to avoid unwanted stat. Abu Dhabi will provide Mercedes with their final chance to stand on the top step of the podium and avoid a winless season. Remarkably, Mercedes last endured a season without a single victory in 2011.

‘What’s left to play for’;

https://www.crash.net/f1/feature/104...-season-finale


Verstappen can break ANOTHER F1 record at Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Tuesday 21 November 2023 17:57
Sam Cook
GPFans

Max Verstappen's record-breaking 2023 could still get better at the season ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, as he looks to seal the record for the percentage of laps led in a single season.
Whilst the dominant Dutchman will have his eyes firmly set on the chance of overtaking Sebastian Vettel and having third place to himself on the list of all-time race winners, he may inadvertedly set the bar extremely high for another all-time achievement.

Having already sealed a hatful of records throughout the course of 2023 – arguably the most impressive of which being the amount of consecutive race wins – Verstappen is currently ahead of Jim Clark's lead lap percentage record heading into the final race in Abu Dhabi. The Red Bull man has, so far, led 75.06 per cent of all laps in 2023, a staggering statistic considering this has been a 22 race season.

‘Verstappen can break ANOTHER F1 record’;

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/10...cord-laps-led/


Mercedes boss Toto Wolff's Ferrari comment speaks volumes ahead of Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff previewed the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and the Silver Arrows' battle with Ferrari.
19:29, Tue, Nov 21, 2023
By Jack McEachen
Daily and Sunday Express

Mercedes lead Ferrari by just four points and all is still to play for in the United Arab Emirates. However, after leading his team to five consecutive double world championships - the only principal in history to do so - Wolff has played down the race for second and instead wants to be fighting for titles again.

“I think we’re going there on pretty much equal points [with Ferrari]... then let’s race,” said Wolff. “It’s all down to the last weekend. They are very quick, they’ve done a good job. I think we could have been on par today but the result shows something different, so let’s race.”

"To be honest, it’s good to have P2 as a positive to finish the season, but P2, P3 for me, there is little… it doesn’t make me particularly cheery anyway. How do you say – it doesn’t make [this year] better for me.”

‘Speaks volumes’;

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...i-Abu-Dhabi-GP


F1 champion makes alarming Mercedes prediction for Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Tuesday 21 November 2023 18:57
Tyler Foster
GPFans

Button favours Ferrari in Abu Dhabi. Last year, Ferrari enjoyed a better weekend at the Yas Marina Circuit than Mercedes and the 2009 drivers’ champion has tipped the team to once again show their speed in the desert.

“[Abu Dhabi] is another circuit with long straights and 90-degree corners,” Button said. “It’s going to be similar, the Ferrari [cars] will be competitive there."

Based on recent form, Ferrari certainly have the upper-hand over their German rivals. They will have to overcome a four-point deficit, but will be victorious in the case of a tie due to Carlos Sainz’s earlier win in Singapore.

‘Button favours Ferrari’;

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/10...bi-grand-prix/