Las Vegas Grand Prix Free Practice 3: Russell Leads as Verstappen Follows Closely
George Russell led Free Practice 3 for the Las Vegas Grand Prix, narrowly beating Max Verstappen, who was just over two-tenths behind. Alexander Albon delivered a surprise third-place finish, showcasing Williams' potential. The session highlighted tight competition at the front and a challenging outing for McLaren, setting the stage for a highly anticipated qualifying session with unpredictable outcomes.
George Russell topped the final practice session for the 2025 Las Vegas Grand Prix, with a blistering 1:34.054s lap. Red Bull's Max Verstappen was a mere 0.227s behind, setting the stage for a competitive qualifying session. Notably, Alexander Albon of Williams secured an impressive third place, signaling potential for a strong performance on the unique street circuit.
Why it matters:
Free Practice 3 is often the most indicative session for a driver's raw pace ahead of qualifying, as teams fine-tune their setups. Russell's strong showing, coupled with Verstappen's close second, suggests a fierce battle for pole position. Albon's performance also highlights the potential for midfield teams to challenge at the front on this circuit.
The details:
- Russell's Dominance: George Russell's pace suggests Mercedes has found a strong rhythm on the Las Vegas strip, positioning them as a strong contender for qualifying.
- Verstappen's Consistency: Despite not topping the session, Max Verstappen's consistent presence at the sharp end indicates Red Bull's underlying strength, even with a slightly less dominant margin than usual.
- Albon's Surprise Performance: Alexander Albon's third-place finish is a significant highlight, demonstrating Williams' potential and the unique characteristics of the Las Vegas street circuit that can sometimes shake up the typical pecking order.
- Rookie and Reserve Driver Presence: Several younger drivers like Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls), Andrea Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes), and Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) showed strong pace, hinting at the depth of talent in the F1 feeder series and their adaptability to top-tier machinery.
- Ferrari's Mixed Bag: Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) secured a respectable fifth, but his teammate Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) was down in fifteenth, suggesting inconsistency in setup or driver comfort across the garage.
- McLaren's Struggle: Both McLaren drivers, Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, found themselves at the very bottom of the timesheets, indicating a challenging session for the Woking-based team to find pace on this circuit.
What's next:
The focus now shifts entirely to qualifying. With such tight margins at the front and a few surprises in the top ten, the battle for pole position promises to be intense. Teams will be analyzing every data point from FP3 to make final adjustments, hoping to unlock the ultimate pace needed for a strong grid position, which is crucial for race strategy on a street circuit known for its unpredictability.