Leclerc Fastest in Las Vegas GP Practice as McLaren Struggles with Brakes

Charles Leclerc topped the opening practice session for the Las Vegas Grand Prix, setting the pace as McLaren grappled with significant braking issues. Championship contender Lando Norris was only sixth-best, nearly half a second slower than Leclerc, after experiencing multiple lock-ups and a brief wall brush.

Why it matters:

The Las Vegas Grand Prix is a highly anticipated new addition to the F1 calendar, and understanding early performance dynamics is crucial. Ferrari's strong showing, particularly Leclerc's pace, suggests they could be contenders, while McLaren's brake problems highlight potential setup challenges on this unique street circuit. For Norris, who is in a tight championship battle, any session hampered by technical issues is a setback.

The Details:

• Track Conditions: The brand-new circuit proved exceptionally dusty at the start, compounded by rapidly dropping temperatures as the sun set and the city lights illuminated the track. Air temperature was 14.1

  °C and track temperature 18.6°C as practice began.

• Tyre Choices: Most drivers opted for medium tires for their initial runs. Nico Hulkenberg used hards, and Fernando Alonso started on softs, indicating varying strategies to cope with the cold and dusty conditions.

• Ferrari's Pace: Charles Leclerc quickly found rhythm, improving his benchmark significantly throughout the session, eventually setting the fastest time of 1:34.802 on scrubbed soft tires. His teammate Carlos Sainz also showed promising pace, finishing fifth.

• McLaren's Woes: Lando Norris encountered significant braking difficulties, leading to several lock-ups, run-offs at Turn 12, and a slight brush with the barrier at Turn 9. He ended the session in sixth, behind several unexpected contenders.

  • Oscar Piastri, Norris's teammate, experimented with a lower downforce rear wing and used flo-vis paint to analyze airflow, suggesting McLaren was actively trying to find an optimal setup for the long straights of The Strip.

• Surprise Performances: Alex Albon of Williams impressively climbed to second, just 0.166s off Leclerc's pace. Yuki Tsunoda of Red Bull also showed strong form, finishing third, just ahead of his teammate Max Verstappen.

• Mercedes' Efforts: Lewis Hamilton briefly topped the timesheets on soft tires but gave up time in the final sector, indicating either a mistake or tires struggling to last a full lap. George Russell finished ninth, with Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes junior driver) rounding out the top 10.

The big picture:

The Las Vegas circuit's cold temperatures, dusty surface, and long straights present a unique challenge for all teams. Ferrari's early pace is a positive sign for their weekend ambitions, especially after recent struggles. McLaren's braking issues are a concern, particularly for Norris's championship hopes, and will require immediate attention. The strong showings from Williams and Tsunoda suggest that this circuit could throw up some unexpected results, making the upcoming sessions crucial for all teams to fine-tune their setups and adapt to the demanding conditions.

What's next:

Teams will be working intensively to analyze data from this session, focusing on optimizing braking performance and finding the right aerodynamic balance. Expect significant changes in car setups for the subsequent practice sessions as drivers get more accustomed to the track. Resolving McLaren's braking issues will be a top priority if Norris is to mount a serious challenge this weekend.