"I would tear the whole place down" - Max Verstappen on how he'd react as a fan if he was allotted $200 compensation for FP mishap in Las Vegas GP

Reigning world champion Max Verstappen has been largely unimpressed with the management of the F1 Las Vegas GP. After being told about the compensation given to fans after the FP mishap, he suggested he would "tear" the place down if he was a fan.

The entire first practice session of the inaugural Las Vegas GP got cancelled, resulting in a delay in the second session. The grandstands were subsequently evacuated and no fans were present in the second session, because of "logistical concerns."

The first session was cut short after only nine minutes of running, and to compensate for this, the fans were given $200 vouchers. But Max Verstappen feels that wasn't fair to them.

De Telegraaf quoted him as saying:

"Then they still make money! Great. If I was a fan, I would tear down the whole place. This can't be right."

Max Verstappen has been outspoken about the race facilities in Vegas. He earlier suggested it was not a sporting event, claiming it was only 1% racing and 99% show.

Verstappen is not the only one to share this view; many fans have made similar comments on social media. The layout of the track and the management have been under the scanner for a long time.

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Max Verstappen shares his view of the loose manhole cover during FP1 of the Las Vegas GP

A manhole cover had come loose after Carlos Sainz's Ferrari ran over it during the first practice session. This severely damaged the car and the session was stopped to facilitate an inspection of the track.

Max Verstappen later said it was apparent that the manhole cover would have come loose if an F1 car ran over it because of the way it was put.

"Listen, if you look at those manhole covers and how that's put together, you just have to know that it would naturally come up when an F1 car drives over it," he said. "You really don't have to have a high IQ to know that."

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff had earlier mentioned that a cover coming loose was something normal during street races, and that it shouldn't be "moaned" for in Las Vegas. Max Verstappen, however, has a different opinion on the matter. He believes that just because there is a possibility it might happen does not mean it should happen.

The Dutchman said:

"It's the same, if you were to say to us: 'You know, you do everything you can and then you turn into the wall. Oh well, it can happen.' No, of course it doesn't [just happen]. It just sucks. It shouldn't happen. But, you have to learn from that and you have to be able to take criticism."

Verstappen, who qualified P3, will be starting the race in second place behind Charles Leclerc because of the 10-place grid penalty that Sainz has been handed. Sainz exceeded the allotted number of energy stores for the season (changed in his car because of the damage in FP1).