Second practice for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix is DELAYED due to loose drain covers… just months after the same issue forced F1 to cancel a session in Las Vegas

The second free practice session for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix was delayed on Thursday night due to loose drain covers.

After last week’s opening race of the 2024 season in Bahrain, Formula One headed to Saudi Arabia, but they already ran into an early problem.

After passing the first practice session without concerns, the second practice was stopped after loose drain covers were detected.

Haas confirmed the postponement with a post on X that read: ‘Session delay! And yes, you guessed it, it’s because the drain covers are loose.

‘After a damaged deck was found in front of the garages, they all need to be checked before the session can begin. “FP2 will continue to last 1 hour.”

Haas confirmed the delay, but the matter was quickly resolved and practice was allowed to resume.

Loose drain covers also forced the cancellation of the first practice at the Las Vegas Grand Prix in November.

Confirmation of the delay came at around 5pm UK time, but the issue was quickly fixed and the session was allowed to resume at 5.10pm.

This is the second time in a matter of months that drain covers have given F1 headaches ahead of race day.

The first practice for the Las Vegas Grand Prix in November had to be canceled just eight minutes after a drain cover damaged two cars.

Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari stopped after appearing to go through a drain, while Alpine’s Esteban Ocon was also hit by a drain which damaged his car.

Authorities managed to resolve the matter in time for the weekend’s race, but it was an embarrassing situation that has now resurfaced in the opening weeks of the 2024 season.

The drain cover incident comes at the start of a major race weekend for F1, with all eyes on Red Bull team principal Christian Horner as he continues to lead his team despite allegations about his “inappropriate behavior” toward an employee.

All eyes will be on Red Bull team principal Christian Horner again this weekend.

Horner was cleared of any wrongdoing last week, but messages he allegedly sent to the employee were leaked to the press, further casting doubt on his position.

Horner has continued to deny the allegations and walked out hand in hand with his wife Geri Halliwell before the Bahrain Grand Prix last Saturday in a show of unity by the couple.

It has since emerged that Red Bull suspended Horner’s accuser “because she was dishonest”, and Horner admitted that the scandal has been “very difficult” for his family.

He will now look to focus on track matters this weekend, as Red Bull aim for another dominant performance after taking a one-two finish last week with Max Verstappen winning ahead of teammate Sergio Perez.