Daniel Ricciardo questions F1 chiefs as Las Vegas GP fears raised after Carlos Sainz chaos

Alpha Tauri star Daniel Ricciardo has questioned F1 chiefs after Carlos Sainz wrecked his Ferrari by driving over a loose drain cover during practice ahead of the Las Vegas Grand Prix. Formula One’s return to Las Vegas was thrown into chaos following the incident as the opening practice session of the weekend was cancelled after just eight minutes.

The Nevada street circuit has been added to the F1 calendar this year, with teams and their drivers descending on the United States earlier this week. But a red flag was issued after Sainz’s Ferrari was significantly damaged by the broken drain cover.

Esteban Ocon’s Alpine then collided with the debris that had been left behind in the aftermath of the incident and required a replacement chassis. The opening session was ultimately completely cancelled, with the second practice being extended from 60 minutes to 90 minutes after starting two-and-half hours later than scheduled.

And Ricciardo has questioned F1 bosses after being asked if they had prioritised the razzmatazz of the Las Vegas event over the safety of the sport.