Formula 1 has made significant modifications to the Las Vegas Strip circuit’s manhole and valve covers to avert a recurrence of Carlos Sainz’s troubling crash from last year. Sainz, driving for Ferrari, encountered a serious accident during the initial practice session of F1’s inaugural race around the Las Vegas Strip due to a dislodged water valve cover on the main straight.
Unexpected Incident Causes Chaos
The incident arose when the concrete frame of the cover failed, leading to substantial damage to Sainz’s Ferrari. This mishap resulted in a hefty repair bill for the Scuderia team. The crash also delayed further Thursday sessions, pushing FP2 to a late start at 2:30 am local time, witnessed by empty grandstands. Thankfully, the remainder of the weekend proceeded without a hitch.
Preventive Measures in Place
To ensure no such issues this year, sources from Motorsport.com and Autosport reveal that F1 and its governing body, the FIA, have implemented changes to the covers along the 6.2-kilometre street circuit. Numerous manhole and similar covers have been paved over, while others are now secured with wider and heavier anchoring blocks to prevent displacement.
Given that the circuit primarily uses public roads, not all covers could be paved over. The city requires access to water valve and utilities when the track reopens to the public. For these areas, reinforced constructions have been employed to maintain safety without blocking essential access.
Additional Circuit Adjustments
In addition to the manhole cover adjustments, smaller alterations have been made, such as realigning the walls at the high-speed entry to the pit lane. These changes are part of a broader initiative to ensure the safety and smooth operation of the race.
Reflecting on last year’s incident, Carlos Sainz expressed…
