F1 News: Max Verstappen Fuming - "If I Were A Fan I'd Tear The Whole Place Down"

Fans were asked to leave before the commencement of FP2.

After the initial free practice session for the Las Vegas Grand Prix was halted just eight minutes in, due to a dislodged drain hole cover causing substantial damage to Carlos Sainz's Ferrari, spectators at the venue were asked to leave before the much-delayed commencement of FP2. The session stoppage provoked a sharp response from Red Bull driver Max Verstappen.

The spectators were asked to leave because the stewards had exceeded their working hours. Due to track repairs and the inspection of other drains, the start of the second session was delayed by two and a half hours, eventually beginning at 2:30 a.m. local time.

The session extended beyond the typical 60-minute duration to 90 minutes for each driver and team to gain as much data as possible. However, fans were required to vacate the stands an hour before the second practice session began. This decision was due to the stewards and security personnel exceeding their maximum allowable working hours.

The following day, the event organizer announced compensation for those who had tickets exclusively for Friday, where only eight minutes of track action occurred. These individuals were offered a $200 voucher for the race's F1 store. Considering ticket prices could reach up to 20,000 euros for a weekend pass, this compensation might seem limited. Speaking to De Telegraaf, a furious Verstappen revealed what he would have done if he was one of the spectators who got treated unfairly. He said:

"Then they still earn money! Great...

"If I were a fan, I'd tear the whole place down. That can't be right."

In an official statement made by the Las Vegas Grand Prix, the $200 voucher was offered as a "thank you for your support," but, to the annoyance of the spectators, there was no apology. The statement read:

“There is no higher priority at a Formula 1 race than the safety and security of drivers, fans and staff alike,” a message sent to single-day ticket holders stated.

“Following last night’s incident involving a water valve cover, the Las Vegas Grand Prix, F1 and the FIA were faced with the difficult decision to close the fan zones prior to the beginning of Free Practice 2.

“We appreciate your patience while we remedied the situation. This was not a decision we took lightly. As a thank you for your support, we would like to offer you a $200 voucher to the Las Vegas Grand Prix Official Shop.

“With a full round of practice successfully completed, we look forward to providing a safe and entertaining race weekend for all.”