F1 fans want Las Vegas Grand Prix scrapped after chaotic scenes tarnish event

The FIA have confirmed they are investigating the incident with the driver's safety in mind.

However, given the huge costs involved of staging the race in Vegas, many are understandably disappointed with how the situation has unfolded.

Those watching in Vegas booed and jeered when they learned first practice would be cancelled.

And some fans on social media have now called for the Las Vegas Grand Prix to be scrapped and removed from the calendar as a result of the issues in Sin City.

"That was pathetic," said one user. "USA Only needs one race!! Keep COTA (as that one is actually enjoyable) and scrap the others."

A second said: "Scrap #LasVegasGP and bring back Sepang, Hockenheim, Istanbul and please, Kyalami."

"Incredible how Liberty Media spent $400 million dollars and they don't consider this. The people who buy their ticket must feel scammed," stated a third.

A fourth user raged: "This is fast turning into a circus."

And a fifth said: "What a joke."

To make matters worse, F1 fans have now been banned from attending second practice.

A statement was released that read: "Due to logistical considerations for our fans and our staff, we have made the determination that we will be closing all Las Vegas Grand Prix fan areas at 1:30AM PT.

"We look forward to welcoming fans back later today for exciting Fp3 and qualifying sessions."

And that decision has also sparked a backlash online.

One fan expressed their anger by saying: "Ok now THAT is ridiculous."

"Sad for the few people that actually bought a ticket," added a second.

A third weighed in by saying: "Joke of a Grand Prix. Cash is king."

A fourth said: "It just keeps getting weirder and weirder..."

And a fifth reacted to that development by saying: "This is insane."

Mercedes chief Toto Wolff, meanwhile, has condemned critics of the Las Vegas Grand Prix and denied it is a 'black eye' for the sport.

"That is not a black eye, this is nothing," raged the Austrian.

"We are on Thursday night, we have a free practice session that we're not doing.

"They're going to see the drain covers and nobody's going to talk about that tomorrow morning anymore."

"It's completely ridiculous. How can you even dare trying to talk bad about an event that sets the new standards to everything?" he said.

"And then you're speaking about a f*****g drain cover that's been undone. That has happened before. That's nothing.

"Give credit to the people that have set up this grand prix, that have made this sport much bigger than it ever was.

"Liberty has done an awesome job and just because in FP1 a drain cover has become undone we shouldn't be moaning.

"The car is broken, that's really a shame. For Carlos it could have been dangerous, so between the FIA and the track everybody needs to analyse how we can make sure that this is not happening again.

"But talking here about a black eye for the sport on a Thursday evening? Nobody watches that in European time anyway. Come on."