Wolff hopes F1 can repay fans in Las Vegas for missing FP2

Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff hopes Formula 1 can find a way to repay fans who had missed the second free practice during the Las Vegas Grand Prix.

The second session was postponed for two-and-a-half hours as problems arose in the first free practice session with manhole covers not properly secured. As a result, Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz's car was badly damaged and Alpine driver Esteban Ocon's car was also damaged. The subsequent checking of the track took so long that the second free practice did not start until 02:30 local time.

Sent home

By that time, spectators had already been sent home by the organisers, as security personnel had reached their maximum working time. Those fans who had stayed at the track during the delay were only told that the grandstands would be closed an hour before the second practice would finally start. According to Motorsport Week, Wolff said there should have been better communication, adding that he hoped those affected would be compensated appropriately. "Often communication can do a lot to make the situation better,” the Austrian stressed. "I hope for the people that ended up upset for the right reasons we can find a good package for next year so they can enjoy the race and in a way maybe we can pay them back for the unfortunate situation.."

A difficult weekend for Wolff

Wolff had a difficult weekend in Las Vegas. During a press conference, he went on a rant against a journalist who made a comment about the manhole cover incident. According to Wolff, the incident meant little, and he felt the media did not pay enough attention to the good aspects of Las Vegas. Red Bull driver Max Verstappen then called this reaction by Wolff "hypocritical."