Toto Wolff believes that the criticisms about the Las Vegas Grand Prix were disproportionate
Mercedes is one of the teams that has greatly contributed to the return of F1 to Vegas with a tailor-made hospitality unit, as the event is presented as a huge commercial coup for the series and its stakeholders.
The much-awaited Las Vegas Grand Prix, which took place last weekend, received a lot of criticism from locals, as well as from drivers and spectators. The event got off to a bad start on Thursday when a manhole cover was dislodged by Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari and Esteban Ocon’s Alpine, causing the FP1 to be interrupted after eight minutes and resulting in a long delay for the FP2. Spectators were asked to leave the stands, mainly because the stewards and security service had finished their day.
The track issues of FP1 have thus sparked an avalanche of criticism from fans and media, which Wolff deemed completely ridiculous. After the entertaining race on Saturday night, he felt that the event had ticked all the boxes.
Many things that have been said seem a bit exaggerated or too negative because we are leaving Las Vegas after a great weekend, he said. I think it will have increased the popularity of Formula 1 in the United States, that’s for sure. There is nothing negative that I can find.
He added, “« The manhole cover meant nothing, as I said. […] When I think back to that evening, a spectacular race, a fantastic crowd, a mega event, and exciting duels at the front, that’s what I will remember from the inaugural race in Las Vegas that ticked all the boxes ».”
Afterwards, he revisited the incident that forced the spectators to leave the stands. It was unforeseen circumstances, and we cannot force people to work so late. For next year, maybe we could create some kind of buffer.
Often, communication can do a lot to improve the situation. I hope that for people who have been upset for valid reasons, we can find a good arrangement for next year so that they can enjoy the race and, in a way, maybe we can compensate them for this unfortunate situation.
For now, everything will be decided this weekend in Abu Dhabi for the 2nd place in the constructors’ standings between Ferrari and Mercedes.
