F1 Drivers Address Las Vegas GP Weather Concerns Amid Flood Warnings

F1 drivers, including Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso, George Russell, and Max Verstappen, are expressing significant concerns about potential wet conditions at the Las Vegas Grand Prix. Recent flood warnings in the area have highlighted the challenges of racing on the notoriously slippery street circuit under lights, with low temperatures further complicating tire performance and visibility.

Why it matters:

After a major flood warning earlier in the week, the potential for rain looms over the Las Vegas Grand Prix. This is critical because the street circuit is already known for its low grip in cool conditions, making rain an even greater challenge for drivers and teams aiming to extract performance and ensure safety.

The details:

• Lewis Hamilton emphasized the difficulty, stating, "This is probably the slipperiest track that we go to... Getting the tires working here was very tough in these cool conditions." He added that the car "doesn't necessarily love the rain," but he's "down for the challenge."
• Fernando Alonso echoed concerns about visibility and grip: "Not fun at all. It's fast. Visibility is going to be a challenge under the lights and also the grip level is very low already on dry tyres - temperature is low. So it could be fun to watch, but not to drive."
• George Russell, last year's winner in Las Vegas, hopes for dry conditions but warned of the dangers: "Out of all of the races, I would choose for this one not to be wet... Street track, white lines, a bit bumpy in sections. So it'll catch people out, and you’ve just got to make sure you're not one of them."
• Max Verstappen, the winner of the inaugural race on this layout, also prefers a dry race: "If it rains, the tarmac is wet so it's a bit slippery. I'm not looking forward to that potentially... It's already hard enough to get everything working here."

The forecast:

• Thursday: Light rain is forecast for later in the day, with a moderate chance of a light shower during FP2.
• Friday: Mostly cloudy with chances of showers until mid-afternoon. The chance of rain decreases throughout the day, leading into qualifying at 8:00 PM local time with increased cloudiness.
• Saturday (Race Day): Expected to be mainly sunny, with the race at 8:00 PM anticipated to be dry.

What's next:

While drivers prepare for a challenging weekend, the updated weather forecast offers some optimism for a dry race. Teams will be closely monitoring conditions during practice sessions to fine-tune car setups for either wet or dry running, with a particular focus on tire warm-up and overall grip. The dynamic weather could add an unpredictable element, potentially mixing up the grid if wet conditions persist into crucial sessions.