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1 year ago
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It has been far from an ideal start to the race weekend in Las Vegas but a new day brought a fresh start for Formula One in Sin City.
Friday descended into farce as the first practice was abandoned after only eight minutes when a drain cover came loose on the track, causing substantial damage to Carlos Sainz's Ferrari.
Fans were furious but the 3.8m track had to be inspected for any further potential issues.
But on Saturday night, with another practice session and qualifying on the horizon, the drivers headed back to the track.
Sainz even honored a commitment to appear at a fan event in the city and looked to be enjoying himself alongside his fellow Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc.
Lewis Hamilton arrived in a flamboyant red outfit for final practice in Las Vegas on Friday
Elsewhere Carlos Sainz, who drove over the loose drain cover on Thursday, was at a fan event
Hamilton's Mercedes teammate George Russell arrived with girlfriend Carmen Montero Mundt
Influencer and model Veronika Rajek was also seen arriving by the track in Las Vegas
Francisca Gomes, girlfriend of Pierre Gasly, was seen enjoying herself by the paddock
Sainz was penalized with a 10-place grid penalty for repairs needed to his car after driving over the drain cover. Speaking about it earlier on Friday, he looked far less happy than during his fan event appearance.
'Unfortunately as the session finished the team told me I was taking a 10 place grid penalty for something that I and the team have no fault and obviously this has changed completely my mindset and my opinion on the weekend and how the weekend is going to go from now on,' Sainz said.
"You will not see me very happy this weekend. What happened today for me is a very clear example of how this sport can be improved in so many ways.'
Lewis Hamilton was seen arriving in a flamboyant all-red outfit and sunglasses that caught the eye in the City of Lights.
The Mercedes driver said in the build-up to the race that the cold temperatures at night pose a unique challenge to drivers this week and it was 60 degrees Fahrenheit (15 celsius) when he arrived at the track on Friday.
And the WAGs and influencers were out in force as well.
George Russell, Hamilton's Mercedes teammate, arrived at the track with his girlfriend Carmen Montero Mundt. Francisca Gomes, girlfriend of Pierre Gasly, was also seen having a laugh as she walked around the paddock.
And influencer and model Veronika Rajek was also seen arriving for practice and qualifying. She is well known to some as being a big Tom Brady fan but her sporting interest clearly extends into F1 as well.
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