LIVE: F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix 2025 - Free Practice 3 Update
Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris led the initial free practice sessions at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, but severe disruptions, including rain and a manhole cover incident, have left teams scrambling for track time. With only one crucial FP3 session remaining before qualifying, drivers face immense pressure to adapt to the low-grip circuit and finalize setups, setting the stage for an unpredictable weekend.
Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris topped the first two free practice sessions at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, navigating the notoriously low-grip surface of Sin City. However, rain between sessions and an FP2 disruption due to a manhole cover issue complicated matters, leaving teams scrambling to make up for lost time ahead of qualifying.
Why it matters:
The Las Vegas Grand Prix weekend has been anything but smooth. After the drama of the 2023 FP1, where Carlos Sainz's Ferrari was severely damaged by a manhole cover, the FIA has taken an ultra-cautious approach, twice red-flagging sessions to prevent similar incidents. This has significantly reduced valuable track time, forcing teams to condense their setup work and qualifying simulations into a single, crucial FP3 session.
The details:
- Leclerc and Norris Lead Early: Charles Leclerc set the fastest time in FP1, while Lando Norris topped FP2, showing early pace for Ferrari and McLaren, respectively.
- Challenging Conditions: The street circuit's low-grip asphalt, exacerbated by rain between FP1 and FP2, has made conditions tricky for all drivers, impacting tire warm-up and overall car balance.
- FP2 Disruption: A major incident involving a loose manhole cover caused a lengthy red flag in FP2, severely limiting running for most teams. This echoes the significant issues faced during the inaugural Las Vegas GP weekend.
- FIA Caution: Learning from past events, the FIA has prioritized safety, implementing red flags at the first sign of potential track issues. While necessary, this has further compressed the schedule and practice time.
- Oscar Piastri's Challenge: Notably, Oscar Piastri finished FP2 down in P14, significantly off his teammate Norris's pace. He, among others, will be under pressure to find rhythm and performance in FP3.
What's next:
With only one hour of practice remaining before qualifying, FP3 becomes a critical session for every team. Drivers will be pushing to understand tire degradation, optimize car setups, and complete essential qualifying runs. The performance in FP3 will offer the best indication of who is truly in contention for pole position and a strong race performance in what promises to be an unpredictable Las Vegas Grand Prix.