A loose manhole cover slowed down Formula 1 on the second day of testing in Sachir. Charles Leclerc in the Ferrari and Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton drove over the curb in turn eleven on Wednesday and apparently loosened the cover at the Bahrain International Circuit. Therefore, the first session of the day was canceled, but the second session was scheduled to take place after repair work.
A similar incident occurred in November of the previous year at the Las Vegas GP. Back then, the opening training session had to be stopped after just 19 minutes after Carlos Sainz jumped over an obstacle and damaged his Ferrari. According to the World Motorsport Association (FIA), a subsequent inspection revealed that the concrete frame around a manhole cover had failed.
