Russell Tops Wet-to-Dry FP3 in Las Vegas, McLaren Hits Trouble

George Russell led a challenging third practice session at the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix, with a late 1m34.054s lap on a drying track. World champion Max Verstappen finished a close second, but the session was heavily influenced by the shifting wet-to-dry conditions, making it difficult to gauge true performance ahead of qualifying. Meanwhile, both McLaren drivers, Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, faced significant issues, ending the session at the bottom of the timesheets.

Why it matters:

The rapidly changing conditions in FP3 provided limited relevant data for qualifying and the race, which are expected to be dry. This means teams will head into critical qualifying sessions with less optimal setup information. McLaren's technical problems are particularly concerning, as they risk compromising their competitive edge at a crucial point in the season, potentially impacting their fight for constructors' points and Norris's championship aspirations.

The Details:

• The final practice session began in damp conditions, a first for the Las Vegas Strip Circuit, following morning showers.
• Most drivers initially opted for intermediate tires, with many hesitant to push hard due to the slippery conditions; Alex Albon's off at Turn 5 highlighted the treacherous track.
• Mid-session Transition: As the track dried, teams gradually switched to soft tires. Lando Norris was among the first, but a significant slide suggested the track wasn't fully ready.
• Rapid Improvements: Once soft tires became viable, lap times tumbled. Yuki Tsunoda, Charles Leclerc, and Max Verstappen all took turns at the top as the benchmark dropped into the 1m34s range.
• McLaren's Woes: Oscar Piastri's car lost telemetry, forcing him to pit. His teammate, Lando Norris, also reported an electrical issue and lost telemetry late in the session, preventing both from setting competitive flying laps when the track was at its best.

What's next:

With qualifying approaching, teams will have to quickly adapt their strategies based on limited dry-track running from FP3. McLaren faces an urgent task to diagnose and resolve the technical issues affecting both Piastri and Norris before qualifying to ensure they can compete effectively. The unpredictability of the FP3 results due to the weather means that qualifying could be particularly tight, with several drivers and teams vying for pole position under clear skies. The true pecking order of the Las Vegas Grand Prix will only be revealed during qualifying and the race itself.