Lewis Hamilton demands FIA action as loose drain cover ruins F1 testing in Bahrain

The drain cover issue severely hampered the running during the all important 2024 F1 testing event.

Lewis Hamilton demands FIA action as loose drain cover ruins F1 testing in Bahrain

FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem and Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton (via IMAGO)

The 2024 F1 testing is done and dusted after a very up-and-down three-day event at the Bahrain International Circuit. All ten teams had separate programs that they had to do, but a loose drain cover acted as a stumbling block for the teams.

Lewis Hamilton being in the thick of the action during testing, was not at all pleased with the loose drain covers that forced changes in the run plans on day two and three. Hamilton was involved in the first drain cover incident on Thursday, that took place on the approach to Turn 11.

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After him, it was Charles Leclerc who went over it and after some repairs, the next day, it was Sergio Perez‘s RB20 that led to another drain cover getting loose. All these things massively impacted F1 testing fot the participating teams. At the end of the event yesterday, Hamilton while discussing the same, said, as reported by RaceFans:

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It’s obviously a concern and I think, hopefully, the FIA on top of it. We probably need to be welding these things down in advance before us getting there. Fortunately it wasn’t like the one that Carlos hit, but we’ve definitely got to be on top of it.

The 39-year-old has made his frusration pretty clear around the whole drain cover drama. Moreover, has urged the FIA to stay on top of such things in advance going into the 2024 F1 season.

Loose drain cover made quite a few headlines in 2023 as well

While Lewis Hamilton has aksed the FIA to have a serious look at the drain cover issue, this is sometihing that took place during the 2023 F1 season as well. As indicated by Hamilton, during last year’s Las Vegas GP event, a drain cover got loose and significantly damaged Carlos Sainz‘s SF-23.

Carlos Sainz (Credits: Sky News)
Carlos Sainz (Credits: Sky News)

The damage on the car was so bad that Ferrari even asked for compensation to make up for the loss they incurred due to the loose drain cover. Back then, the particular session was completely called off as the organizers had to check all the drain covers because of the Sainz incident.

In recent times, the drain cover problems have come into immense limelight and considering this, it will be interesting to see what the FIA is going to do. Just like Lewis Hamilton, there have been quite a few other drivers as well who have bashed the drain cover incidents.

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