LAS VEGAS — Formula One officials have implemented safety measures to secure manhole covers along the Las Vegas street circuit following issues during practice sessions for the 2025 Las Vegas Grand Prix. Concerns arose after a marshal observed a loose manhole cover during the second practice session on Thursday night, prompting the session to be halted twice for inspections.
The first red flag was raised with 21 minutes remaining in the session, but although officials determined the area was safe to continue shortly after, the session was halted again with just one minute left due to the same issue. In response, the FIA confirmed that the problematic manhole cover at Turn 17 was disassembled, inspected, and found to have a specific fault in the closure mechanism.
To prevent any recurrence, track maintenance workers welded the manhole cover overnight, enhancing its security. Further inspections were carried out on all manhole covers along the racing line, resulting in additional welding on 14 other assemblies to ensure their stability.
The Las Vegas street circuit, which features a layout incorporating the iconic Las Vegas Strip, is temporarily reopened to local traffic during the night and morning before closing again for F1 activities each day. This year’s event recalls an incident from the inaugural 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix when a loose water-valve cover forced a cancellation of the opening practice after just eight minutes, although the rest of the weekend proceeded without significant problems.
After addressing the manhole cover concerns, the F1 Academy support series proceeded with its qualifying session Thursday night without further incidents, experiencing only a brief delay. The final practice session for the Las Vegas Grand Prix is set to take place at 4:30 p.m. PT on Friday, followed by the qualifying session at 8 p.m.
With these enhanced safety measures in place, the anticipation for the Las Vegas Grand Prix continues to build, promising an exciting experience for both participants and spectators.