Track problems unacceptable – Ferrari boss

without injury – but their cars were severely damaged. A giant hole tore through Sainz’s Ferrari leaving his mechanics facing an extensive repair job. Team principal Frederic Vasseur, who appeared in a pre-arranged press conference moments later, was furious.

“We completely damaged the monocoque, engine and battery,” he said. “It is just unacceptable.”

Second practice had originally been scheduled to start at midnight, but it was postponed as all 30 drain covers along the 1.2-mile Las Vegas Boulevard – which runs against the backdrop of Caesars Palace, Bellagio and Venetian hotels – were inspected.

The covers were removed and holes filled with concrete and quickdrying resin in a hasty repair job. The track was finally deemed fit-forpurpose at 2.30am local time.

However, when the running resumed the stands were empty after strict labour laws posed a security risk. Some disgruntled fans, who refused to leave, were moved on by police. A general admission ticket for the three-day event costs $500 (£400), while a hospitality suite was sold at an eye-watering $150,000 (£120,000) for the three days.

The disastrous failure in Las Vegas comes 48 hours after a Superbowllike opening ceremony, and a day on from world champion Verstappen heavily criticising the staging of the Grand Prix – the first here in four decades – as “99 per cent show, and one per cent sport”.

Once the cars finally did get on track for the second session, Leclerc finished half-a-second clear of teammate Sainz. Verstappen, a winner of 17 of the 20 rounds so far, was nine