Lewis Hamilton was the fastest driver at the end of the first practice session for the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix with teammate George Russell chasing him in second.
While it was expected that Ferrari and McLaren may be fighting at the front, Mercedes emerged at the end of FP1 as the fastest two cars.
But it should be noted that the Mercedes pair opted to wait as late as possible to bolt on the Soft tyres and do their qualifying runs, when the track was at its best.
The session was characterized by the extremely low grip conditions caused by the track surface as well as the extremely cold conditions that are expected to be even colder for FP2.
Lando Norris was third fastest in the McLaren while Charles Leclerc was fourth ahead of Verstappen in fifth.
Carlos Sainz was sixth fastest in the second Ferrari while Fernando Alonso was seventh ahead of Oscar Piastri in eighth.
Pierre Gasly was ninth with Sergio Perez tenth.
There is still a lot to be revealed as the weekend develops and the track evolves even more, as Red Bull appeared to be slower than rivals in the final sector where engine levels play a role as the defending Formula 1 champions usually have their engines down on Friday.
Also expect the tow to be a factor come qualifying especially given the long straight down the Las Vegas strip.
It was some great car control from all drivers, as all managed to stay out of the barriers despite the tricky low-grip conditions and several lockups and off-track moments.
Buildup towards FP1
Here we are, the final leg of the 2024 F1 season, as we head back to Vegas after what was a thrilling Sao Paulo Grand Prix that saw Verstappen regain the upper hand in the championship fight with Norris.
The latter all but admitted defeat before even turning a wheel in Las Vegas, and you cannot blame him after the win Verstappen achieved in Brazil as McLaren now focus on the constructors' championship with Ferrari breathing down their necks.
We have a new race director this weekend, Rui Marquez, after the curious case of Niels Wittich's departure along with sudden changes in the FIA, so race officiating will be something to look out for this weekend, that is not to mention the growing disdain with the governing body among the drivers.
Ferrari, with their improved race pace this year, might lose the qualifying edge that saw them lock out the front row in 2023, but they are still fancying their chances for a win around the famed strip while Verstappen will be only targeting to finish ahead of Norris in the points and title #4 will be in the bag.
In terms of tyres, Pirelli have brought their softest range, crucial in the colder temperatures expected so they have: The C3 (Hard), C4 (Medium) and C5 (Soft) available for the teams.
In terms of car upgrades, Red Bull have a track specific front wing along with revised floor fences, with Mercedes only revealing a Las Vegas specific front wing for now.
Ferrari also have a front wing specific for this race but have revised floor fences, flood body, and a new floor edge as well.
McLaren, on the other hand, only brought a track specific front wing, which also applies to Aston Martin, and Alpine, with Williams bringing nothing news as they must have struggled to put their cars together after their crash fest over the previous triple header.
VCARB, aside from the custom livery, have a revised coke/engine cover, revised rear suspension and rear winglets with a track specific mirror with Haas having a new floor body.
Sauber on the other hand went all out with: New floor body, new floor fences, new floor edge, and a new diffuser.
So let's see how the Las Vegas Grand Prix unravels, but hopefully the drain covers are fixed properly this time. The organizers have modified the manhole and valve covers ahead of this year's race.
FP1 Session Highlights
The night session started in dry conditions in cold conditions: Track temperature was 16 degrees Celsius while the air temperature was 14 degrees.
The drivers wasted no time and hit the track immediately as soon as the green light was on at the end of the pitlane.
Liam Lawson first reported: "Feels like I'm driving in the wet honestly." He was describing the extremely low grip levels on the track. He was on the Medium tyres.
While most team where in the Mediums, the Red Bulls bucked the trend both Perez and Verstappen starting the session on the Soft compound.
It seems Turn 7 and 8 were catching out the drivers as Piastri, Leclerc, and Sainz all went wide there at low speed, bringing out brief Yellow flags.
Replay showed Norris missing his braking point and going wide at Turn 14 while he had a very close moment with the wall as well.
The drivers went on putting in the laps, times dropping but far off the projected pace as grip levels were yet to improve, drivers struggling to keep their cars pointed in the right direction.
Zhou Guanyu soon had a massive lockup going into Turn 14, ending up in the run-off area and causing a brief Yellow flag.
Verstappen also was very close to the wall going out of Turn 5 and then went deep at Turn 14 causing another Yellow flag.
With 20 minutes gone, Franco Colapinto was given a black and white flag for failing to follow race directors instructions going into the pitlane and crossing the white line.
Ferrari, on the other hand, warned Leclerc to watch the line at the pit entry.
The grip was so low, Verstappen visibly fighting his car, trying to keep it on track especially when exiting corners, as onboard footage showed him fighting the steering wheel.
Piastri, while in the pits reported that his McLaren wouldn't shut down, as it idled on while the mechanics wheeled it back into the garage. It was duly turned off afterwards.
Russell, just after entering the pits, reported: "The pit entry line is almost impossible to see."
Speaking from the McLaren pitwall, CEO Zak Brown said: "We do think this is a circuit that will suit the Ferrari.
"Small issue [for Piastri] but we know what it is and it will get sorted, a bit unusual," he added of Piastri's problem trying to shut down his MCL38.
Past the halfway mark, more driver started shifting towards the Soft tyres for some qualifying simulations.
Leclerc, on his first fast lap on Softs, went second fastest, 0.085s slowed than Hamilton whose fastest time was set on Mediums.
Hamilton soon locked up braking into Turn 14, ending up in the run-off area, and causing a brief Yellow flag.
Leclerc, on his second qualifying run went fastest by half a second, but then Sainz went even faster despite being held up by Colapinto.
Verstappen soon reported that his steering wheel was not properly connected, the electricals that it. He said the radio "went on by itself".
He went on to post the sixth fastest time, slowed than his rivals in the last sector. Are Red Bull running their engine on lower power mode? As usual on Friday?
Replay showed a close moment between Esteban Ocon and Lance Stroll, the former almost rear-ending the very slow Aston Martin driver. No contact though.
Hamilton ended up on top after a final flying lap, with the session concluded by practice starts.
"Steering wheel sometime randomly disconnected," Verstappen radioed at the end of the session as he went to do his practice start.
How they finished
Hamilton posted a 1:35.001 to go fastest, 0.396s ahead of Russell and 0.953s clear of Norris who was third in the McLaren.
Leclerc was fourth fastest, 1.006s off the pace and 0.031s faster than Verstappen in fifth.
Sainz posted a lap time of 1:36.218 to go sixth fastest, 0.044s ahead of compatriot, Alonso, who was seventh in the Aston Martin.
Piastri was down in eighth, 1.450s away from Hamilton's time, and 0.027s ahead of Gasly in ninth with Perez tenth, 0.058s behind the Frenchman.
Las Vegas Grand Prix FP1 Classification
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