Source – Formula1.com
Lewis Hamilton set the speed in FP2 for the Las Vegas Grand Prix, defeating Mercedes teammate George Russell and McLaren opponent Lando Norris to complete a practice clean sweep Thursday. Championship leader Max Verstappen finished the race in 17th place after a quiet performance.
As the bright lights of Las Vegas painted the desert night, Formula 1 action intensified with the second practice session for the inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix. Leading the charge once again was Lewis Hamilton, who showed no signs of slowing down after his impressive display in FP1. The seven-time world champion clocked a stunning 1m 33.825s on the soft compound tyres, placing him narrowly ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris and teammate George Russell in a Mercedes-powered top three.
Hamilton’s commanding lap came just before the session was interrupted by a red flag. The stoppage was triggered when Alex Albon’s Williams came to a halt on the side of the circuit, a fuel system issue forcing the Thai-British driver to an early retirement. This misfortune capped a frustrating day for Albon, whose session had already been disrupted by technical problems, leaving him unable to mount a proper challenge under the neon-lit skies.
Behind the leading trio, Ferrari continued their steady progression, with Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc taking fourth and fifth spots, respectively. The Scuderia duo showcased promising pace, though they remained a couple of tenths adrift of Hamilton’s benchmark. Alpine’s Pierre Gasly, fresh off his Sao Paulo heroics, rounded out the top six despite encountering traffic during his flying lap on soft tyres.
Haas enjoyed a rare moment of collective success, placing both cars in the top half of the standings. Kevin Magnussen impressed with a lap good enough for seventh, while teammate Nico Hulkenberg slotted into ninth, separated by the McLaren of Oscar Piastri. Yuki Tsunoda gave the Red Bull junior team a reason to smile as he powered his RB to tenth, rebounding well from a challenging FP1 session.
Valtteri Bottas secured 11th for Kick Sauber, though his evening was overshadowed by news of a five-place grid penalty for an engine component change. Alpine’s Esteban Ocon followed in 12th, with Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso settling for 13th and 14th, respectively. Meanwhile, Liam Lawson, deputizing for Red Bull, found himself half a second off Tsunoda’s pace in 15th.
Reigning champion Max Verstappen endured a perplexing session, his Red Bull struggling for grip on the cold and slippery surface. The Dutchman’s frustration was palpable over team radio, where he reported a lack of traction throughout his runs. Verstappen managed just one flying lap on the soft tyres before the red flag, leaving him an uncharacteristic 17th on the timesheets. His teammate, Sergio Perez, fared no better, languishing in 19th after a similarly challenging stint.
Williams rookie Franco Colapinto occupied the final spot, with his day complicated by the lingering aftereffects of his dramatic crash in Interlagos. Meanwhile, Albon’s early exit confined him to 20th, ending what had already been a tough outing for the Grove-based squad.
The session’s unpredictable nature underscored the unique challenges posed by the Las Vegas circuit. The cold evening conditions created a treacherous racing surface, forcing teams and drivers to navigate a delicate balance between aggression and caution. These factors promise an intriguing build-up to Friday’s final practice session and the high-stakes qualifying showdown under the Vegas lights.
With Hamilton leading the way, Mercedes will head into the next sessions brimming with confidence. However, the gaps remain tantalizingly close, with McLaren, Ferrari, and Alpine all within striking distance. As teams pore over data and assess set-up changes, the stage is set for an exhilarating climax to the opening chapters of this historic Grand Prix weekend.
