FP2 at the Las Vegas GP were marked by two red flags that prevented the drivers from completing all their planned work, and the long interruptions caught former Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz Jr. off guard, as he was unable to improve his time. The double red flags were caused by issues with drain covers, a recurring problem at the Las Vegas street circuit.
In the past, manhole covers have caused no shortage of trouble for drivers. The one most affected was Carlos Sainz Jr. in 2023. After some initial concerns, the marshals decided to stop the session to inspect the track.
2025 reminiscent of 2023?
During FP2, some marshals reported a problem with the manhole covers at Turn 17 to the FIA. After the necessary inspections, the session resumed with only three minutes remaining. The incident brought back memories for Carlos Sainz Jr. from his penultimate year at Ferrari in 2023. During FP1 that year, the Spanish driver was forced to retire, also due to a manhole issue. After the checks, Ferrari had to replace several components on the car, which led Sainz Jr. to incur a heavy race penalty.
Speaking to the media, Carlos Sainz Jr. admitted: “It doesn’t bring back many good memories… I hope they are fixing it.”
Despite the setback, the #55 Williams driver remained positive: “Unfortunately, the issues in FP2 took away valuable time from everyone, especially those who went out later on track, like me. Apart from that, today seemed like a promising day.”
Carlos Sainz added: “The car balance feels good and the tires are behaving well, maybe a bit on the limit, but I think we are on the right track. The forecast predicts rain overnight, but clear weather when we are on track, so we will continue working to perfect the setup for when it really matters.” – the former Ferrari driver concluded.
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