The problem with the sewer cover has significantly affected the progress of the crucial F1 testing event of 2024. FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem and Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton expressed their dissatisfaction with the loose covers that disrupted the teams’ plans over two days. Hamilton’s incident occurred on Thursday at Turn 11, followed by another incident involving another driver’s RB20 the following day. These incidents had a major impact on the testing of all participating teams. Hamilton, while discussing the matter, expressed his frustration and urged the FIA to address this issue before the start of the 2024 F1 season.
Hamilton’s request for the FIA to address the sewer cover problem is not new. A similar incident occurred during the 2023 F1 season at the Las Vegas GP, where a loose sewer cover caused significant damage to another driver’s SF-23. Ferrari even sought compensation for the losses incurred due to the incident, leading to the cancellation of the session as all sewer covers had to be checked. The recent attention to sewer cover problems has received criticism from various drivers, including Hamilton.
It remains to be seen how the FIA will respond to these sewer cover incidents, considering the growing attention they have received. Appeals for action from drivers like Hamilton highlight the need for the FIA to effectively address this issue.
