F1 practice cancelled after insane turn of events

A loose manhole cover has potentially ruined a Formula One car and postponed crucial practice sessions ahead of the Baku grand prix this weekend.

All six kilometres and 320 manhole covers on the Azerbaijan street circuit will be checked after a nasty incident which has potentially ruined the chassis of George Russell’s Williams.

Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc first drove over the manhole cover during the first practice of the weekend, dislodging it.

Russell followed soon after, clattering into the loosened cover and causing significant damage to his car.

A red flag was immediately waved for the session.

Williams are yet to confirm the extent of the damage to their machine, but Russell’s own diagnosis was less than optimistic.

“There was a manhole cover and got the biggest smack from my body,” Russell said.

“The engine turned off, it’s ruined the floor and the chassis could be ruined.

“The session won’t be going green until it’s sorted and it’s ruined the session.

“I’m better, still not 100% but going in the right direction.”

Williams head honcho Claire Williams said she would be taking the incident up with race control, clearly furious about the unfortunate turn of events.

“I haven’t had a chat with George yet, the car has got a lot of damage,” she said.

“We have to wait to see, what the damage is – it’s taken the whole underside out and the circuit needs to make sure the covers are down properly and that means we could be out this afternoon because of that.

“I will be picking it up with race control.”

Salt into the wound

Making matters worse for the Williams team, their ailing machine somehow copped even more damage as it was being brought back to the pits.

The crane truck carrying the stricken racecar misjudged the height of a bridge above the track.

After the crane clattered into the bridge, hydraulic fuel was spilled all over the damaged Williams – leaving even more work for the disappointed crew to salvage.