Hamilton Tops Las Vegas Practice as Verstappen Struggles in Low Grip Conditions
Lewis Hamilton dominated the first day of practice for the Las Vegas Grand Prix, leading both sessions under the bright lights of the Strip. The Mercedes driver clocked the fastest lap in FP2 with a 1m 33.825s, narrowly beating McLaren’s Lando Norris and his teammate George Russell. It was a strong recovery for Hamilton, who admitted he felt like walking away after his disappointing result in Brazil.
“It’s the first time I’ve had a day like that this year,” said Hamilton, who was optimistic despite noting areas for improvement. “The car was feeling really good in P1. In P2 less so… But really enjoying driving the track.”
Russell, Sainz and Leclerc round out top five
George Russell, who placed third in FP2, called the day “incredible” and praised Hamilton’s performance. “Lewis did a really great job out there. He has been really on it,” said Russell. Team principal Toto Wolff joked about Mercedes’ strong showing, calling them “low-grip champions” but remained cautious about the competition catching up as track conditions improved.
Ferrari drivers Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc rounded out the top five in FP2. The Ferraris showed solid pace, during race simulations, hinting they could be contenders in the main event.
Red Bull end FP2 in 17th and 19th after struggling with track conditions
Meanwhile Max Verstappen, who needs to lose no more than two points to Norris to seal his fourth title this weekend, had an unusually off day. The Red Bull driver ended FP2 in 17th after battling with icy track conditions and poor tire performance.
“It feels massively tyre-related,” Verstappen explained. “The balance is not that wrong, but we have no grip. It is like driving on ice at the moment.” He added that the long-run pace was more competitive in the session, but things still needed refining.
Red Bull’s struggles weren’t limited to Verstappen. Sergio Perez also lagged in 19th place, facing similar grip issues. Red Bull’s lack of pace has surprised many, given their usual dominance.
With another practice session and qualifying still to come, Hamilton and Mercedes will aim to maintain their momentum, while Verstappen looks for solutions to his grip issues. The race is shaping up to be one of the season’s most unpredictable events.
