By:
Sam Hall
And with that, it is time to head off for a break. We’ll be back at 5:45am GMT ahead of FP2 but for now, here is the full session report from the first outing of the weekend. As ever, thanks for your company!
https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/f1-las-vegas-gp-hamilton-leads-mercedes-1-2-from-norris-in-opening-practice/10675106/
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes F1 W15
Photo by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images
It should be noted, even Hamilton’s session best time was roughly three seconds off the pole lap of 12 months ago, highlighting the evolution that is yet to come in the following sessions.
By the time FP1 came to a close, both the air and track temperatures had dropped by three degrees. This fall is expected to continue into FP2, which takes place at a similar time to both qualifying and the race.
09:06:38 am
“I know it was only first practice, but that was another unimpressive run for Sergio Perez. His best time is only good enough for 10th place on the time sheets. Time is running out for him to prove he deserves to retain his seat at Red Bull next year. The other aspect is that Red Bull need him to start delivering points if they are to claw back their way into contention to win the constructors’ championship.”
Completing practice starts on the grid, Verstappen has massively overshot the grid box. Were that to happen in the race, he would be in hot water for that one.
Hamilton’s final lap was 0.396s up on Russell. He has 0.953s over Norris in third and all other drivers are over a second back.
And Hamilton moves to the top with a 1m35.001s. With no one else on a hot lap, he will exit the car as the fastest man in the session.
Hamilton is into the final sector of his final effort, as he goes purple in sector one.
The chequered flag flies and Sainz is the first driver to take it.
08:59:25 am
“So far, so good for the new FIA race director, Rui Marques. Not major incidents like we saw last year so he has been able to easy himself into the big seat left vacant by Niels Wittich, who left the role after the Sao Paulo Grand Prix. We have Toto Wolff in the press conference later, so it will be good to get his thoughts on the shock departure and what he makes of Marques.”
Hamilton goes top, but Russell is faster still with a third consecutive flying lap, moving to a 1m35.397s.
And we’re about to see what Hamilton can do with soft, as he begins his first timed effort on the compound.
As the click ticks below five minutes, Russell returns Mercedes to the top with a 1m35.619s.
We’re seeing a decent number of drivers in the pits now, we’re probably going to see some warm tyres bolted on for a round of closing flying laps to end the session.
Hamilton is the only driver not to have tried soft tyres yet in this session.
10 minutes remain in FP1.
Up from 14th to sixth for Verstappen, but he remains 0.807s off the pace of Norris.
Verstappen reports a “connection issue” with his steering wheel, complaining that the radio “went on by itself”. A peculiar problem, for sure.
McLaren has shown its hand for the first time this weekend, with Norris the first driver below 96s, putting in a 1m35.954s, as team-mate Piastri improves to fourth, sandwiching the Ferrari drivers.
Hamilton and Russell are out again but on medium tyres.
But he’s immediately forced back by Ferrari team-mate Sainz who hammers in a 1m36.218s.
The first change at the top for a while, as Leclerc now puts in a 1m36.430s to better Hamilton by 0.497s.
And we’ve had confirmation of a five-place grid penalty for Bottas, after the Sauber driver has had a fourth energy store fitted to his car.
Yellow flags were briefly displayed again there – no explanation why quite yet.
On softs, Leclerc puts in a purple middle and personal bests in the other two sectors to move up to second, behind only Hamilton.
Magnussen is on it once again, moving up to third for Haas. This is the freedom of a driver knowing they aren’t driving for their future.
“We have a voice but we don’t have a vote,” McLaren Racing CEO tells Sky Sports on the changing of the F1 race director. He hopes the move is a “step forward”.
On the plus side, no drain issues to this point!
From 10th to third for Norris. The times have largely stabilised for the moment, but with another round of fresh rubber, the picture could all change very quickly.
Highlighting the pit entry issue, Albon has now been shown the same black and white flag as his Williams team-mate for crossing the white line.
“The pit entry line is almost impossible to see,” reports Russell. With all the lines of the road, it is hugely difficult to pick out.
As per Chandhok’s suggestion, a thick yellow line would clear up any confusion there.
An odd problem for Piastri here, as his McLaren refuses to switch off as his mechanics push the car back into the garage. It’s eventually fixed, but as per the roll hoop lights, it was an electrical issue.
Currently, Mercedes enjoy a 1-2 led by Hamilton, with Leclerc leading a Ferrari 3-4. Championship players Norris and Verstappen are 10th and 9th respectively.
While the track is never going to fall completely silent during a session this weekend, half the grid have returned to the pits, resulting in a quieter track.
The first black and white flag of the weekend goes to Colapinto. Currently in 18th, he failed to follow the race director’s event notes and crossed the white line on pit entry.
Proving how difficult the conditions are, Verstappen runs deep at the end of The Strip following a heavy lock up – his Red Bull screaming as it slid past the cameras.
And with that, it is time to head off for a break. We’ll be back at 5:45am GMT ahead of FP2 but for now, here is the full session report from the first outing of the weekend. As ever, thanks for your company!
https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/f1-las-vegas-gp-hamilton-leads-mercedes-1-2-from-norris-in-opening-practice/10675106/
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes F1 W15
Photo by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images
It should be noted, even Hamilton’s session best time was roughly three seconds off the pole lap of 12 months ago, highlighting the evolution that is yet to come in the following sessions.
By the time FP1 came to a close, both the air and track temperatures had dropped by three degrees. This fall is expected to continue into FP2, which takes place at a similar time to both qualifying and the race.
“That was the first session we’ve had since Toto Wolff’s comments on Hamilton’s “shelf-life” emerged – the Mercedes boss has since moved to explain what he meant – but for the seven-time world champion that was a response that will have had him smiling under his helmet, while his face flashed up the Vegas night as it shone from the Sphere”
“I know it was only first practice, but that was another unimpressive run for Sergio Perez. His best time is only good enough for 10th place on the time sheets. Time is running out for him to prove he deserves to retain his seat at Red Bull next year. The other aspect is that Red Bull need him to start delivering points if they are to claw back their way into contention to win the constructors’ championship.”
Completing practice starts on the grid, Verstappen has massively overshot the grid box. Were that to happen in the race, he would be in hot water for that one.
Hamilton’s final lap was 0.396s up on Russell. He has 0.953s over Norris in third and all other drivers are over a second back.
And Hamilton moves to the top with a 1m35.001s. With no one else on a hot lap, he will exit the car as the fastest man in the session.
Hamilton is into the final sector of his final effort, as he goes purple in sector one.
The chequered flag flies and Sainz is the first driver to take it.
“So far, so good for the new FIA race director, Rui Marques. Not major incidents like we saw last year so he has been able to easy himself into the big seat left vacant by Niels Wittich, who left the role after the Sao Paulo Grand Prix. We have Toto Wolff in the press conference later, so it will be good to get his thoughts on the shock departure and what he makes of Marques.”
Hamilton goes top, but Russell is faster still with a third consecutive flying lap, moving to a 1m35.397s.
And we’re about to see what Hamilton can do with soft, as he begins his first timed effort on the compound.
As the click ticks below five minutes, Russell returns Mercedes to the top with a 1m35.619s.
“It is another cold one in Vegas tonight, as soon as the sun disappears the temperature really does drop. While the FP1 action might not set pulses racing, race organisers will be happy to come through unscathed after last year. The fans who have come out for the first running are also making the most of it…maybe just to warm up!”
We’re seeing a decent number of drivers in the pits now, we’re probably going to see some warm tyres bolted on for a round of closing flying laps to end the session.
Hamilton is the only driver not to have tried soft tyres yet in this session.
10 minutes remain in FP1.
Up from 14th to sixth for Verstappen, but he remains 0.807s off the pace of Norris.
Verstappen reports a “connection issue” with his steering wheel, complaining that the radio “went on by itself”. A peculiar problem, for sure.
McLaren has shown its hand for the first time this weekend, with Norris the first driver below 96s, putting in a 1m35.954s, as team-mate Piastri improves to fourth, sandwiching the Ferrari drivers.
Hamilton and Russell are out again but on medium tyres.
But he’s immediately forced back by Ferrari team-mate Sainz who hammers in a 1m36.218s.
The first change at the top for a while, as Leclerc now puts in a 1m36.430s to better Hamilton by 0.497s.
And we’ve had confirmation of a five-place grid penalty for Bottas, after the Sauber driver has had a fourth energy store fitted to his car.
Yellow flags were briefly displayed again there – no explanation why quite yet.
On softs, Leclerc puts in a purple middle and personal bests in the other two sectors to move up to second, behind only Hamilton.
Magnussen is on it once again, moving up to third for Haas. This is the freedom of a driver knowing they aren’t driving for their future.
“We have a voice but we don’t have a vote,” McLaren Racing CEO tells Sky Sports on the changing of the F1 race director. He hopes the move is a “step forward”.
On the plus side, no drain issues to this point!
From 10th to third for Norris. The times have largely stabilised for the moment, but with another round of fresh rubber, the picture could all change very quickly.
Highlighting the pit entry issue, Albon has now been shown the same black and white flag as his Williams team-mate for crossing the white line.
“The pit entry line is almost impossible to see,” reports Russell. With all the lines of the road, it is hugely difficult to pick out.
As per Chandhok’s suggestion, a thick yellow line would clear up any confusion there.
An odd problem for Piastri here, as his McLaren refuses to switch off as his mechanics push the car back into the garage. It’s eventually fixed, but as per the roll hoop lights, it was an electrical issue.
Currently, Mercedes enjoy a 1-2 led by Hamilton, with Leclerc leading a Ferrari 3-4. Championship players Norris and Verstappen are 10th and 9th respectively.
While the track is never going to fall completely silent during a session this weekend, half the grid have returned to the pits, resulting in a quieter track.
The first black and white flag of the weekend goes to Colapinto. Currently in 18th, he failed to follow the race director’s event notes and crossed the white line on pit entry.
Proving how difficult the conditions are, Verstappen runs deep at the end of The Strip following a heavy lock up – his Red Bull screaming as it slid past the cameras.
