Here is our full text transcript from the first free practice session for the 2023 Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix:
F1 is back in Las Vegas! The wait is over!
Welcome to our’ live coverage of the Las Vegas Grand Prix, as Formula 1 returns to the city for the first time since 1982. We’re just a matter of minutes away from seeing F1 cars on the Las Vegas strip for the first time, with some spectacular views guaranteed. There’s also a huge amount of unpredictability, with cool temperatures at the all-new circuit having the potential to shuffle the pecking order.
The all-new circuit brings a certain amount of unpredictability to the event. While Max Verstappen will undoubtedly start as the favourite, it remains to be seen how the Red Bull – along with the chasing pack – will cope with the cooler evening temperatures. Speaking on Wednesday, Charles Leclerc seemed to think Ferrari were in with a chance of pole position.
Charles Leclerc has had an eventful evening preparing for the first practice session. The Ferrari driver went to watch fellow Monegasque Hugo Micallef in action on the undercard of Shakur Stevenson’s clash with Edwin De Los Santos.
Green light! Cars on track! It’s Lance Stroll first on track onto the Las Vegas circuit. He’s soon joined by the Haas, Alfa Romeos, Williams’ Alex Albon and the two McLarens. George Russell has confirmed what we expected. “Grip is very low, currently,” the Mercedes driver says over team radio.
53 mins to go: It’s a 1:44.019 from Charles Leclerc which doesn’t really mean anything right now apart from being the quickest time of the session so far. We have 16 cars out there. Only Stroll, Piastri, Norris and Sargeant are in the pit lane.
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RED FLAG: Oh dear we have a Ferrari that’s stopped on the long straight towards the start/finish line and it’s Carlos Sainz. He’s not quite made it to the pit entry and a message has come up on his steering wheel saying “stop the car”. Replays show Carlos Sainz goes over a big bump on the long straight, which is 1.9km (1.1 miles) long and his car simply grinds to a halt.
Session will not be resumed! News has just come in that the session will not be resumed. We had about 10 minutes of running before the red flag and there is no confirmation why the rest of Practice One has been cancelled.
Drain cover the reason for no more running. The FIA have just confirmed to Sky Sports F1 that a loose drain cover is the reason for no more running. We had yellow flags on the straight just before Carlos Sainz came to a stop and it’s possible he has gone over a loose drain cover. FIA personnel are next to Sainz’s car to see the damage that’s been caused.
“It’s a safety concern for the drivers,” says Sky Sports F1’s Ted Kravitz.
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