F1 LIVE | Las Vegas Grand Prix 2025: FP1 Kicks Off Under the Lights

The 2025 Las Vegas Grand Prix is set to ignite the Strip as Free Practice 1 gets underway, marking the beginning of the highly anticipated night race weekend. With championship battles heating up and drivers addressing potential weather challenges, the stage is set for a dramatic penultimate event of the F1 season.

Why it matters:

The Las Vegas Grand Prix is a unique spectacle in the F1 calendar, known for its challenging street circuit and nighttime racing. This year, it holds even greater significance as it's one of the final opportunities for drivers to secure crucial points in the tightly contested championship race, with Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri, and Max Verstappen all vying for the title.

The Details:

• Session Schedule: The first free practice session (FP1) for the 2025 Las Vegas Grand Prix begins at 16:30 local time on Thursday, right after sunset, with the race itself slated for Saturday night. All sessions are scheduled for evening or early morning (GMT) to accommodate the night race format.
  • FP1: Friday, November 21st, 00:30 - 01:30 GMT
  • FP2: Friday, November 21st, 04:00 - 05:00 GMT
  • FP3: Saturday, November 22nd, 00:30 - 01:30 GMT
  • Qualifying: Saturday, November 22nd, 04:00 - 05:00 GMT
  • Race: Sunday, November 23rd, 04:00 - 06:00 GMT
• Championship Standings: With three Grands Prix and one Sprint remaining, the driver's championship is a tight affair:
  • P1: Lando Norris - 390 points
  • P2: Oscar Piastri - 366 points (24 points behind Norris)
  • P3: Max Verstappen - 341 points (49 points behind Norris)
• Weather Concerns: Recent images of flooding in Las Vegas have raised concerns among drivers regarding potential wet race conditions.
  • Lewis Hamilton: Highlighted the track's historically slippery nature, stating it would be "really hard if it's wet."
  • Max Verstappen: Expressed a preference for a dry race due to the circuit's inherent challenges, suggesting that if the track floods, "maybe less practice is also not a bad thing."

What's next:

As FP1 commences, all eyes will be on the teams and drivers to see how they adapt to the unique conditions of the Las Vegas street circuit under lights. The performance in these early sessions will be critical for setting up their cars and strategies for qualifying and the main race, which could significantly impact the championship outcome. Fans are encouraged to follow live updates as the action unfolds.