2025 F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix - Free Practice 1 Results

Charles Leclerc topped the first Free Practice session for the Las Vegas Grand Prix, setting the fastest time as the track evolved under dusty conditions. The session saw significant improvements in lap times as rubber was laid down on the circuit.

Why it matters:

• The opening practice session provides crucial data for teams to understand track conditions and fine-tune car setups for the unique Las Vegas street circuit, especially its notoriously low grip at the start of the weekend.
• Early pace can offer a psychological boost, but the evolving track makes these results highly provisional, highlighting the adaptive challenge ahead for all teams.

The details:

• Leclerc Leads the Way: Charles Leclerc secured P1 for Ferrari, demonstrating strong early pace on a challenging surface. This early performance hints at Ferrari's potential competitiveness on the street circuit.
• Albon's Surprise Performance: Alex Albon impressed with the second-fastest time for Williams. This strong showing indicates Williams might have found a sweet spot for the high-speed sections and a potentially good setup for the low-grip conditions.
• Red Bull Split: Yuki Tsunoda outpaced Max Verstappen, placing third ahead of his championship-winning counterpart in fourth. This unusual order for Red Bull could be due to differing test programs or a more immediate adaptation by Tsunoda to the conditions.
• Norris's Challenging Start: Championship leader Lando Norris finished sixth, but his session was marked by multiple off-track excursions. Despite these moments, he managed to stay ahead of his teammate Oscar Piastri, who finished eighth.
• Evolving Track Conditions: The session began with very dusty conditions, leading to rapid improvements in lap times as more rubber was deposited on the track. This makes early session times less indicative of ultimate pace.

What's next:

The teams will analyze the data from this session to prepare for Free Practice 2, where they will focus on longer runs and further setup optimization. The track is expected to continue rubbering in, leading to faster and potentially more representative lap times as the weekend progresses. Drivers like Norris will be looking to iron out the handling issues and find more consistent pace, while Leclerc and Albon will aim to build on their promising starts.