Russell Leads Final Practice in Las Vegas; McLarens Struggle
George Russell topped the final practice session in Las Vegas, outperforming Max Verstappen, while championship contenders Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri of McLaren faced significant technical issues, ending up P19 and P20. The session saw rapidly improving track conditions and a late surge from Russell, highlighting the unpredictable nature of the circuit as teams prepare for qualifying.
Mercedes' George Russell dominated the final practice session for the 2025 FIA Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix, outpacing Red Bull's Max Verstappen by two-tenths of a second. Meanwhile, McLaren's championship contenders Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri faced significant technical issues, finishing P19 and P20 respectively, a concerning development ahead of qualifying.
Why it matters:
This final practice session, held under initially wet conditions, offered a critical glimpse into teams' performance as they fine-tuned their setups for qualifying. Russell's strong showing positions Mercedes as a potential frontrunner, while the unexpected struggles of both McLaren drivers could significantly impact their championship bids. The fluctuating track conditions and swift improvements in lap times underscored the unpredictable nature of the Las Vegas street circuit.
The details:
- Initial Conditions: The session began on a wet track, forcing early runners like Oscar Piastri and Lewis Hamilton onto Intermediate tires. Lap times quickly dropped as the track dried.
- Mid-Session Chaos: The track saw rapid evolution, with multiple drivers, including Yuki Tsunoda, Charles Leclerc, and Max Verstappen, taking turns at the top of the leaderboard as teams transitioned to Soft tires.
- McLaren's Troubles: Lando Norris's promising lap, where he went quickest through the middle sector, was ultimately abandoned due to an issue. Both Norris and Piastri encountered technical problems during their qualifying simulations, relegating them to the bottom of the timesheet.
- Russell's Late Charge: George Russell, the 2024 Las Vegas winner, set the fastest lap in the final moments, posting a 1:34.281, cementing his P1 position.
- Verstappen's Incident: Max Verstappen, despite a strong start to his final push lap, was hindered by traffic and forced off track onto a damp patch, ruining his attempt to challenge Russell.
The big picture:
The significant performance disparity between Russell and the struggling McLarens creates an intriguing dynamic heading into qualifying. While Russell's pace is a boost for Mercedes, the technical woes for Norris and Piastri could be a major setback for their championship aspirations. The rapidly improving track conditions during practice suggest that qualifying will be a high-stakes battle for grip and precision.
What's next:
The focus now shifts to qualifying, where teams will push their cars to the absolute limit. Given the unpredictable track evolution seen in practice, strategy regarding tire choices and optimal lap timing will be crucial. McLaren will be under immense pressure to diagnose and rectify their technical issues to ensure their championship hopefuls can deliver strong qualifying performances.