Lewis Hamilton took control of the first free practice session of the Las Vegas Grand Prix, setting a time of 1:35.001 on a particularly tricky street circuit. The seven-time world champion beat teammate George Russell by 0.396 seconds, giving Mercedes a promising one-two finish.
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The session took place in complex conditions, with the drivers having to deal with a very dusty and particularly slippery track. “It’s like driving in the rain”declared Liam Lawson at the start of the session, illustrating the difficulties encountered by the entire set.
Lando Norris completed the top three, 0.953 seconds behind the leader, followed closely by Charles Leclerc, who placed his Ferrari in fourth position, 1.006 seconds behind. Reigning world champion Max Verstappen had to settle for fifth place, more than a second behind Hamilton, while expressing frustration over technical issues with his steering wheel which “disconnects randomly”.
The session was marked by several minor incidents, including track exits due to lack of grip. The pit entry line proved particularly problematic, with several drivers, including Franco Colapinto and Alexander Albon, receiving a black and white flag for crossing the white line. George Russell also pointed out that “the pit entry line is almost impossible to see”.
Times quickly changed as the track cleared, going from 1:44 at the start of the session to 1:35 in the final minutes. The drivers alternated between medium and soft tires, the latter providing the best performance at the end of the session.
As for the other competitors, Carlos Sainz finished sixth, followed by Fernando Alonso, Oscar Piastri, Pierre Gasly and Sergio Perez completing the top 10. Note that Valtteri Bottas will have to deal with a penalty on the starting grid on Sunday, having had to use his fourth energy store of the season.
The circuit, which winds through the streets of Las Vegas past iconic landmarks like Caesars Palace, Bellagio and the spectacular Sphere, looks to offer a significant technical challenge for drivers. Tire management promises to be crucial for the rest of the weekend, with several drivers reporting graining problems, particularly on the left front axle.
This first free practice session in Las Vegas, much smoother than last year's which was interrupted after only nine minutes following an incident with a manhole cover, allowed the teams to collect valuable data for the rest of the weekend. Mercedes seems to have found a good rhythm from the start, but the progress of their rivals in the coming sessions will need to be closely monitored.
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