The post-qualifying session for the 2023 Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix had a single, prominent protagonist: Max Verstappen. For once, the Dutchman did not clinch the pole position, taken by Charles Leclerc for Scuderia Ferrari, but once the engines were off, he took the spotlight with scathing statements. The targets? The organization of the Las Vegas Grand Prix and the team principal of Mercedes, Toto Wolff, who was accused of defending F1 and Liberty Media after the events from the first free practice session, during which a manhole cover destroyed the rear of Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari and damaged the frame of Esteban Ocon’s Alpine.
Seeing the Dutch world champion, who had already heavily criticized the entire structure of this race on multiple occasions, in the role of a defense attorney for the Maranello team is unusual, but that’s precisely what happened. The Red Bull driver was asked for an opinion on the incident involving Carlos Sainz’s red car on Friday, and the response was punctual. “It’s true that it has already happened on other tracks,” Max Verstappen said for the Viaplay channel, “but people are supposed to learn from mistakes. When you go racing on a city circuit, you know that such things can cause problems. You should be prepared for these things.” – he pointed out at the end of the qualifying session.
Attack on Toto Wolff, solidarity with Carlos Sainz
While Toto Wolff, expressing solidarity with Ferrari for the damages and the incredible grid penalty suffered, downplayed the manhole incident, Max Verstappen used very different words, directly attacking the Austrian manager with whom relations have been strained for some time now: “Wolff? If it had been one of his cars, he would have spoken differently. But I don’t expect anything different from him.”
The reigning champion understandably focused attention on the safety issue, emphasizing the danger faced by Carlos Sainz on that occasion: “We would have been very angry, just like Ferrari is. The entire car was ruined. Carlos also said he didn’t feel his legs for a few seconds, so the accident could have been much worse.”
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“$200 refund? I would raze this place to the ground”
Finally, Max Verstappen launched several additional harsh criticisms at the Las Vegas circuit, from the track layout to the $200 refund for spectators who couldn’t witness the FP2 session: “If I received $200 in compensation after a night like this, I’d probably raze this place to the ground. City circuits? Monaco is the Champions League. Las Vegas is the National League (fifth tier of the English football league).” – he concluded.
