Las Vegas Grand Prix descends into shambles after manhole issue

Formula One bosses were dealt a hugely embarrassing blow after first practice for the Las Vegas Grand Prix was cancelled.

The running under the lights of the Las Vegas strip was suspended when Carlos Sainz broke down in his Ferrari with just eight minutes on the clock.

And then 11 minutes later, it was announced the session would not be resumed – it emerged Sainz's failure was caused by a loose manhole cover.

Television replays showed Sainz being jolted in his cockpit as the cover struck the underneath of his machine as he approached 200mph on the Las Vegas Boulevard.

The car ultimately left the course on the back of a truck but the Spaniard was uninjured.

Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur said two-thirds of the car would need to be changed out and called the situation "unacceptable."

"What Carlos said was he hit something on track and he didn't know exactly what it was," a visibly frustrated Vasseur told reporters.

"We completely damaged the monocoque, engine and battery. It's just unacceptable."

Esteban Ocon also smashed into the debris - against the backdrop of Caesars Palace, Bellagio and Venetian hotels - causing significant damage to his Alpine.

Second practice has been rescheduled to begin at 2.30am local time (10.30am Irish time).

Practice 2 is expected to commence at 2am local time in Las Vegas.

This is subject to local circuit engineering team completing the necessary works on the track.

The session will be extended to 90 minutes.#F1 #LasVegasGP

An FIA spokesperson said: "Following an inspection, a concrete frame around a manhole cover has failed.

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

Speaking on Sky Sports, the highly-respected TV pundit and former driver Martin Brundle,