The Las Vegas GP returns to light up the night after last year's debut, with the first free practice sessions ready to start in the heart of the Italian night, from 3:30 to 4:30. A unique setting that of Nevada, which combines the charm of motorsport with the glamour of Sin City, for a weekend that promises sparks both on and off the track. The FP1s take on a crucial role, not only to test the conditions of a track that is as spectacular as it is technical, but also to observe the consequences of the new technical directive of the FIA, which could change the balance. Ferrari, in particular, is called upon to undertake a delicate adaptation task, with the risk of having to raise its cars and lose downforce. However, the Scuderia from Maranello arrives with updates that could prove decisive in the hunt for the 36-point gap from McLaren in the Constructors' World Championship.
A year ago, FP1 was marked by a memorable mishap: Carlos Sainz crashed into a manhole cover raised by the passage of the cars, causing the session to be suspended and FP2 to be postponed until 2:30 am local time. An episode that perfectly sums up how different this GP is from the others, halfway between spectacle and chaos. But if the first edition left some doubts about the organization, the race itself received unanimous applause for the spectacle offered.
And while Ferrari dreams of a world championship chase, eyes are also focused on Max Verstappen, who could close the match for the Drivers' title here, with 62 points advantage on Lando Norris. In this scenario, every detail will make a difference, and the lights of Nevada promise to give us another night to remember.
Mercedes in the lead, Verstappen in trouble: Slippery Las Vegas opens FP1
The first free practice session in Las Vegas begins with a track that is still very cold and slippery, compared by Liam Lawson to driving in the wet. The first to take to the track in FP1 in Las Vegas are Piastri, Zhou, Ocon, Gasly and Tsunoda, followed by the Ferrari drivers, both on medium tyres. The first time reference is Magnussen with a 1:47.656, but it is immediately clear that the times will improve rapidly as the minutes pass. The session picks up pace, and Verstappen stands out with the record in the second and third sectors on soft tyres, before being overtaken by an excellent lap by Magnussen on medium tyres (1:42.645).
The fight at the top intensifies: Leclerc, Hamilton and Russell alternate at the top, with the seven-time world champion closing the first 20 minutes in the lead, taking advantage of the low temperatures that seem to favor Mercedes. Ferrari remains competitive with Leclerc in third place, while Verstappen and Perez, both on softs, occupy only seventh and eighth place.
There is no shortage of problems: Alonso and Stroll have not yet taken to the track, with Stroll's Aston Martin stuck in the pits due to a technical failure. Verstappen, in the meantime, locks up the front left at turn 14, a sign of the difficulties in adapting to the track, still dirty and with a lot of dust kicking up on the main straight.
Rui Marques' debut as referee
Meanwhile, the debut of the new race director Rui Marques, who replaced Niels Wittich, does not go unnoticed. Marques has already made an official decision, waving a black and white flag at Franco Colapinto for not respecting the race director's notes on entering the pit lane. The driver is promptly defended by Russell who specifies: "The white pit lane entry line is almost impossible to see“, calling attention again.
An episode that highlights how the management of the regulation and the relationship with the drivers will be under observation in this new chapter of race direction.
Leclerc and Sainz lead, but Norris surprises
The second half of FP1 in Las Vegas saw a change of pace, with the drivers starting to push on the soft tyres. Charles Leclerc took the lead with a 1:36.430, a time that seemed solid until teammate Carlos Sainz passed him with a 1:36.218, despite a small slowdown caused by Colapinto and a yellow flag. The Ferraris seemed to be in full control, occupying first and second place, at least until Lando Norris, in his McLaren, improved further, snatching the lead by just 53 thousandths.
The standings after 40 minutes reflect a surprising competitiveness among the top teams. In addition to Norris and the two Ferraris, an excellent Oscar Piastri stands out, third with a gap of just two tenths from the best time. The young Australian was about to complete an even more competitive lap, but had to slow down in the third sector. Technical problems instead for Verstappen, who complains of an unstable connection with the steering wheel and a radio that activates by itself. His best lap, for now, places him only in sixth position, far from the leaders.
Mercedes, meanwhile, continued its work on the medium tyres, waiting to switch to the soft, while Ferrari and McLaren have already shown promising pace. Kevin Magnussen confirmed a solid performance on the soft tyre, placing fourth, while Bottas officially received a five-place penalty for the introduction of a new battery, the fourth for 2024.
With ten minutes to go, the battle for the fastest time remains open, with the teams trying to maximise their work on a track that continues to improve and rubberise.
Mercedes closes in the lead, Hamilton and Russell set the pace
In the final minutes of FP1 in Las Vegas, Mercedes decided to go all-in on the soft tyre, making the most of the time available. Lewis Hamilton and George Russell alternated in the lead, giving the team a promising 1-2 on the flying lap. Russell improved with a lap of 1:35.619, but it was Hamilton who landed the final blow, setting an impressive 1:35.487 and beating his teammate by 90 thousandths. The Mercedes pair trimmed almost half a second from Lando Norris, third with McLaren, confirming a competitiveness that could put them at the centre of the scene for the rest of the weekend.
While Mercedes dominated the single lap, other teams focused on race pace. Leclerc showed consistency, lapping in 38,8s, slightly faster than Norris and Piastri’s times, with the latter being more consistent than his teammate. Ferrari also attempted a last-ditch attack on a new soft tyre for Leclerc, a sign that the team wants to maximise every session to keep its hopes of the Constructors’ Championship alive.
Hamilton seems to be in great shape and the first indications suggest a competitive Mercedes, at least on this track. It now remains to be seen whether the W15's dominance will continue in FP2 and the following sessions, or whether the opponents will be able to close the gap.
Here's the top 10 at the end of FP1 in Las Vegas
P1 Lewis Hamilton
P2 George Russell
P3 Lando Norris
P4 Charles Leclerc
P5 Max Verstappen
P6 Carlos Sainz
P7 Fernando Alonso
P8 Oscar Piastri
P9 Pierre Gasly
P10 Sergio Perez
.
