Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff offered an impassioned defence of the Las Vegas Grand Prix, which is the first event that the owners of F1 commercial rights, Liberty Media, has organised and promoted itself.
Wolff reacted angrily to being asked whether the event had been “a black eye” for F1.
He said: “That is not a black eye, this is nothing. We are Thursday night, we have a free practice session one that we’re not doing.
“They’re going to seal the drain covers, and nobody’s going to talk about that tomorrow morning anymore.
“It’s completely ridiculous, completely ridiculous. FP1 – how can you even dare trying to talk bad about the event that sets the new standards, new standards to everything.
“And then you’re speaking about a drain cover that’s been undone. That has happened before, that’s nothing. It’s FP1.
“Have you ever spoken good about someone and written a good word? You should about all these people that have been out here. Liberty has done an awesome job and just because in FP1 a drain cover has become undone, we shouldn’t be moaning.
“The car is broken. That’s really a shame for Carlos. It could have been dangerous. So between the FIA and the track, everybody needs to analyse how we can make sure that this is not happening again.