Toto Wolff censored by Sky Sports after fiery comments over F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix disruption

F1 news: Toto Wolff was censored by Sky Sports while ranting about the Las Vegas Grand Prix

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Jack Otway

By Jack Otway


Published: 17/11/2023

- 09:28

The race in Nevada has descended into a farce

Sky Sports were forced to censor Toto Wolff after he swore when discussing the F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix.

Practice had been due to commence on Friday morning but, due to an issue with a drain hole cover, has now been abandoned.


F1 chiefs are working hard to ensure P2 goes ahead, though it's still not entirely clear what will happen.

Race organisers have spent thousands to ensure the track in Sin City is ready for one of the biggest shows of recent memory.

F1 news Las Vegas

F1 news: The Las Vegas Grand Prix cost thousands yet has already descended into a farce

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But while there have clearly been some mistakes, Wolff was in no mood to condemn chiefs.

The Mercedes team principal has defended them at a fierce press conference and lost his cool when asked if the chaos was a 'black eye' to the sport.

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

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

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

He added: "It's FP1 – how can you even dare trying to talk bad about an event that sets new standards to everything?

"You're speaking about a f***ing drain cover that's been undone, that has happened before. That's nothing – it's FP1.

"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 [Sainz], it could have been dangerous.

"So between the FIA and the track and everybody needs to analyse how we can make sure that this is not happening again.

"But talking here about the 'black eye for the sport' on a Thursday evening – nobody watches that in European time anyway."

Sky were forced to bleep Wolff's F-bomb comment as the Austrian ranted.

However, tempers and emotions are running high while the uncertainty surrounding the event rumbles on.

Ferrari chief Frederic Vasseur has confirmed Carlos Sainz Jr's damaged car would not be fixed in time for the second session.

Sainz Jr ran over the manhole and his vehicle suffered huge damage as a result.

And Vasseur has described the situation as 'just unacceptable' and thinks the sporting side of the spectacle has been neglected.

"The show is mega and I am very happy with what [F1 commercial rights holders] Liberty [Media] did around the race but we have to separate the show and the sporting side," he said.

"The show is mega.

"The opening ceremony was something mega in F1 but it is not because you are doing this that you don't have to do the job on the sporting side.

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F1 news: Toto Wolff has passionately defended the Las Vegas Grand Prix despite controversy marring the race

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"You can do the show and do a good job on the sporting side."

The FIA have released a statement addressing the controversy, explaining what went wrong.

A spokesman said: "Following inspection, it was the concrete frame around a manhole cover that has failed.

"We now need to check all of the other manhole covers, which will take some time.

"We will be discussing with the local circuit engineering team about the length of time it will take to resolve and will update with any resultant changes to the schedule."

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