Formula 1 | Las Vegas, FP1: Hamilton takes a Mercedes F1 double

The Las Vegas Grand Prix began at night, at the end of the day on Thursday Nevada time, with FP1. In France, they took place at nighttime, between 3:30 and 4:30 in the morning.

Several teams brought new features this weekend. Red Bull brings a specific front wing to the circuit, as well as new vertical fins at the front of the floor. Mercedes F1 brings a specific front wing.

Ferrari has a specific front wing, a completely revised floor and new vertical fins at the front of the floor. McLaren also has a specific front wing. This is also the case for Aston Martin F1, while Alpine brings reworked front brake ducts.

RB F1 brings a new engine cover, a reoriented rear suspension, reworked rear scoops and Monza specification mirrors. For the final three races of the season, the team borrowed suspension and scoops from the Red Bull RB20, with a view to development for 2025.

Stake F1 has a new diffuser and a new floor, and Haas a new floor. Williams couldn't do anything given the repair work to be done after Brazil.

The drivers had to deal with a track that was difficult to understand at the start of this first session, because it was terribly lacking in grip. Liam Lawson even said that riding on this surface was “like driving in the wet”.

The times quickly went down as the track improved throughout the session, with more than ten drivers taking turns at the head of the session.

It was Lewis Hamilton who then spent most of the session in the lead, with a time of 1'36″927, ahead of George Russell. The Ferrari drivers temporarily settled behind the Mercedes before Pierre Gasly, Lando Norris and Kevin Magnussen took turns in third position.

Several drivers had warnings with small track exits, including Max Verstappen who had a big flat on his tires. George Russell said it was very difficult to see the pit entry line.

Williams F1 drivers Alex Albon and Franco Colapinto each had a black and white flag after crossing the line in question. Leclerc then managed to insert himself between the Mercedes drivers.

Nico Hülkenberg managed to take fourth place ahead of Magnussen, confirming the good form of the Haas at the start of the weekend. The American team will fight against Alpine to regain sixth place in the manufacturers' standings.

Hamilton was then trapped braking at Turn 14, at the end of the long Strip straight. The Briton was able to continue without problem but blocked a wheel which will have to be analyzed.

Leclerc then took the lead of the session in 1'36″430. Carlos Sainz did even better in 1'36″218 by taking a nice slip from a Williams. Oscar Piastri placed third, and Magnussen did better than Hamilton by placing fourth.

Leclerc did better in 1'36″007, but Lando Norris took the lead in 1'35″954! Esteban Ocon moved up to eighth place. Pierre Gasly then took the fifth fastest time, confirming that the fight between Haas and Alpine will rage on. Verstappen positioned himself sixth.

The Mercedes F1 drivers had not yet switched to soft tires, and Russell took the lead in the session in 1'35″619. Hamilton improved to 1'35″487, Russell tried to respond in 1'35 “397, but it was the seven-time world champion who had the last word in 1'35″001.

The Mercedes therefore do the double in front of Norris, Leclerc and Verstappen. Sainz follows in front of Alonso, Piastri, Gasly and Pérez who complete the top 10. The RB F1 drivers bring up the rear and there are four cars more than three seconds behind the best time.