Lewis Hamilton delivered a remarkable performance in opening practice for the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix, leading a dominant one-two finish for Mercedes.
The session took place on a unique circuit that winds through the iconic Las Vegas Strip, providing a stunning backdrop for the high-speed action.
Lewis Hamilton’s time of 1:35.001 was not only the fastest of the day but also set a new benchmark for the event, as he outpaced his teammate George Russell by a substantial margin of 0.396 seconds.
The opening practice for 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix began under challenging conditions with the track surface described as dusty and slippery which is typical for circuits that have recently been laid out in urban environments.
The session began at 6:30 PM local time, and despite being one of the first evening sessions, temperatures were cool, dropping below 15°C. This further complicated matters for the teams as they sought to optimize their setups for the race weekend.
The drivers initially struggled with grip as they navigated a surface coated in dust, which made it feel akin to driving in wet conditions. Notably, Verstappen and Zhou Guanyu both experienced lock-ups at Turn 14 early in the session, illustrating the difficulties posed by the track’s low grip levels.
In the first half of practice, times began to fall rapidly as drivers adapted to the conditions. Verstappen initially set the pace with a time of 1:44.239 on soft tyres but was quickly eclipsed by Haas’ Kevin Magnussen and later by Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc who clocked in at 1:41.900 on medium tyres.
However, it was not long before the competitive nature of the session ramped up as various teams switched tyre compounds and adjusted their strategies.
As the session progressed, Lewis Hamilton and George Russell both took to the soft tyres in the closing minutes, which allowed them to capitalize on improved track conditions.
The seven-time world champion’s final lap was particularly impressive; after trailing Russell briefly, he managed to reclaim top position with a blistering lap that not only secured him the top spot but also highlighted Mercedes’ resurgence in performance after a somewhat inconsistent season.
McLaren’s Lando Norris finished third with a time of 1:35.954, showcasing his team’s competitive edge as they have been strong contenders throughout the season.
Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz followed closely behind in fourth and sixth places respectively underlining Ferrari’s efforts to close the gap in the Constructors’ Championship standings against McLaren, while Verstappen split the duo in fifth.
Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso finished seventh with a time of 1:36.262, indicating that he remains a formidable presence in the midfield battle.
Oscar Piastri and Pierre Gasly followed in eighth and ninth further emphasizing McLaren’s and Alpine’s competitive edge as they pushed for points in what has been an unpredictable season thus far.
Notably absent from their usual dominance was Red Bull’s Sergio Pérez who struggled throughout practice to round out the top ten.
As opening practice for the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix concluded, it became evident that Mercedes had regained some momentum heading into qualifying and ultimately the race itself.
Hamilton’s performance not only served as a confidence booster for him but also for his team as they look ahead to securing valuable points in both driver and constructor standings.
