Leclerc Dominates Vegas FP1 as McLaren Struggles with Slippery Track

Charles Leclerc topped the first practice session for the Las Vegas Grand Prix, clocking a 1m34.802s. Meanwhile, McLaren drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris faced significant challenges on the cold, slippery street circuit, hinting at a potentially difficult weekend for the Woking team.

Why it matters:

The inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix is proving to be a unique challenge, with a cold, dirty, and slippery track surface catching out even experienced drivers. McLaren's struggles, particularly with braking and grip, could open the door for rivals like Ferrari and Williams to capitalize on a rare off-weekend for the otherwise strong Woking squad. This early performance sets a crucial tone for qualifying and the race on a circuit where track evolution will be key.

The Details:

• Leclerc's Pace: Charles Leclerc set the benchmark with a 1m34.802s on medium tires, finishing 0.166s ahead of Williams' Alex Albon.
• Top Performers: Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull) and Max Verstappen (Red Bull) secured third and fourth, respectively, highlighting Red Bull's early pace. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) rounded out the top five, backing up Williams' strong showing.
• McLaren's Woes: Lando Norris finished sixth and Oscar Piastri seventh, but both drivers spent much of the session struggling with the conditions.
  • Incidents: Norris had two wide moments at Turn 11, a section where he appeared to struggle under braking, and clipped the wall with his right-rear. Piastri also ran wide at Turn 14.
  • Setup Split: McLaren experimented with different rear wing setups, with Piastri running lower downforce and Norris a higher downforce configuration to suit the slower corners.
• Track Conditions: The street circuit was cold and dirty, leading to low grip levels, especially as temperatures dropped after sunset. Many drivers, including Fernando Alonso, Oliver Bearman, and Lewis Hamilton, had moments off-track or narrow escapes.
• Braking Challenges: Braking proved to be a major hurdle on Las Vegas' abrasive surface, contributing to McLaren's issues, with Norris frequently questioning his team over the radio about his car's performance under braking.

Looking Ahead:

The challenging conditions in FP1 suggest that track evolution will be a significant factor throughout the weekend in Las Vegas. Teams will need to quickly adapt their setups and strategies as grip levels improve. McLaren's ability to overcome their early braking and grip concerns will be crucial for their performance in FP2 and beyond. Ferrari, with Leclerc's strong start, appears well-positioned, while Williams has also shown promising pace, indicating an unpredictable qualifying and race on this brand-new circuit.