Las Vegas Grand Prix Free Practice 1 Results

Charles Leclerc topped the charts in Free Practice 1 for the 2025 Las Vegas Grand Prix, with an impressive 1m34.802s lap. While the session showcased some familiar frontrunners, the strong performances from Williams and Racing Bulls drivers indicate a potentially unpredictable weekend on the Strip.

Why it matters:

The initial practice session sets the tone for the entire race weekend, offering crucial data for teams to fine-tune their setups. Leclerc's strong showing immediately positions Ferrari as a contender, while the surprising pace from Alex Albon and Yuki Tsunoda suggests that the unique characteristics of the Las Vegas street circuit could level the playing field, making for a less predictable battle than typical Grand Prix weekends.

The details:

• Charles Leclerc set the fastest time with 1m34.802s for Ferrari, signaling strong early pace for the Scuderia.
• Alex Albon of Williams Racing secured a remarkable second place, just 0.166 seconds behind Leclerc, highlighting Williams' potential on this street circuit.
• Yuki Tsunoda from Visa Cash App Racing Bulls F1 Team continued his strong form, taking third position.
• Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz rounded out the top five, indicating the usual contenders are still in the mix.
• Several young drivers and reserve talents, including Isack Hadjar (P7), Kimi Antonelli (P10), Liam Lawson (P13), Oliver Bearman (P16), Gabriel Bortoleto (P19), and Franco Colapinto (P20), participated, gaining valuable experience on a challenging track.
• The session saw a mix of established and developing teams showing competitive lap times, suggesting an intriguing tactical battle ahead.

The big picture:

The Las Vegas Grand Prix, being a relatively new addition to the F1 calendar and held on a temporary street circuit, often produces unexpected results in early sessions due to its unique layout and cooler temperatures. The early pace from Ferrari and the competitive showing from mid-field teams like Williams and Racing Bulls underscore the adaptive challenges teams face. The long straights and tight corners demand a careful balance between top-end speed and aerodynamic grip, which could reshuffle the traditional pecking order.

What's next:

Teams will now analyze the data from this session to make critical adjustments for Free Practice 2. The focus will be on optimizing tire performance, particularly on the softer compounds, and fine-tuning aerodynamic setups for both qualifying pace and race durability. With the field appearing tightly packed, especially at the front, every tenth of a second will count as teams push to gain an advantage heading into qualifying.