F1 Las Vegas GP live commentary and updates - FP1
Follow along for FP1 action at Formula 1's Las Vegas Grand Prix
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And that's it from us! We'll catch you a bit later this evening (if you're still up!) for FP2.
See you then!
Scratch that, Hadjar launches a late lap to split the McLarens and goes seventh. Thanks for that, Isack - giving me extra work!
FP1 complete
And that's it for FP1! Leclerc ends the session top with a 1m34.802s, ahead of Albon, Tsunoda, Verstappen, Sainz and Norris. Piastri was seventh ahead of the Mercedes drivers and Hamilton.
Albon ends the session with a hefty lock-up at Turn 12.
Just a couple of minutes left, and I think the timing order swaps are over - the drivers are now just using up the remainder of the tyre.
Piastri gets into the top five, but Norris finds a couple of tenths on his team-mate to get up to fifth - briefly, as Sainz moves ahead.
Nonetheless, a scruffy lap from Norris - but he's finally got one in on those softs.
The Mercs are eighth and ninth, which is surprising as they're usually handy around here.
And another! Norris has another wide moment at Turn 11. "It's good to challenge the braking there," says engineer Will Joseph, who suggests some toggle options to try on his next one.
Albon goes up to second on an effort with the softs.
Norris goes wide at Turn 11, as the McLaren still looks unstable out there. Leclerc again hits the top with a 1m34.802s.
Hamilton slides off at Turn 12, as he's still not quite got the rear settled in the lower-speed corners.
Tsunoda now goes top and sets a 1m35.071s, as Norris starts a lap on the softs.
Verstappen nudges ahead of Leclerc to post a 1m35.109s, having lost a pinch of time in the middle sector. Leclerc improved to a 1m35.113s, so just 0.004s between them.
Russell had split the Ferraris as Leclerc found a quicker lap - the Monegasque set a 1m35.121s to extend his advantage. Russell is up to second, while Antonelli pressed that second prep-lap into service to go fourth.
Gasly continues to sit among the top half of the order, and is currently fifth.
Antonelli appears to be testing two prep laps to get some heat into those softs. Alonso and Piastri have moments at Turn 14 and Turn 7 respectively.
Hamilton posts a 1m35.561s on those softs, so he goes to the top. Lots of sliding still, even on the softest compound; Leclerc does a quicker first sector than his team-mate.
There's a 1m35.281s for Leclerc, who goes fastest once more.
Leclerc, Hamilton, and Hulkenberg graduate to the soft tyre - Alonso has been the only driver to put laps on the C5 so far.
Hadjar and Albon had a bit of a set-to - the Racing Bulls driver appearing to feel that he was held up by the Williams driver.
Verstappen's back on top with a 1m35.776s, as the times continue to fall. Most bring their runs on that first set of tyres to an end, as they go through the data created by the opening lap.
Norris clipped a wall with his right-rear, but it didn't look too bad - and the Briton continues.
Leclerc sets a 1m35.954s to reclaim top spot, 0.089s over Verstappen.
"I have a stone flying around in the cockpit," Hadjar reports. As long as it's not a Timo Rautiainen situation (fans of early 2000s WRC will know...) then it won't be too painless.
Bortoleto has a lock-up at Turn 12, while Verstappen improves his time with a 1m36.043s.
Tsunoda then moves to the top with a 1m37.094s, which is then surpassed by Verstappen's 1m36.493s. Sainz goes second, 0.037s behind.
It's a bit of a rotation at the top between Leclerc, Sainz, Hadjar, and Gasly - Leclerc returns to the top with a 1m37.407s.
Norris has an off at Turn 7, while Gasly has a slide at Turn 12 and ends up going off the road while on a swift lap.
Hulkenberg's gone top with a 1m37.370s - on the hard tyre, no less.
Replay of Hamilton holding a slide through Turn 1 - even the permanent part of the circuit is low on grip.
Leclerc went top, before Gasly did a 1m37.990s. The times are continuing to tumble as the circuit gets more rubbered in with each lap. Verstappen gets up to second, half a tenth ahead of team-mate Tsunoda.
Sainz then posts a 1m37.588s to go fastest.
Hadjar hits the top with a 1m39.415s, before Sainz drops a 1m39.355s. Norris goes fourth on his opening lap.
But Hadjar doesn't take that lying down and now does a 1m38.753s to press that advantage.
Gasly does a 1m41.000s, which is beaten by Leclerc's latest effort - a 1m39.733s. Antonelli goes up to second.
The McLarens and Red Bull of Verstappen now hit the track - McLaren looking to test out its revised rear wing.
Sainz, in that black Williams livery, does a 1m41.164s to go to the top. Medium tyres for everyone at this stage, as everyone dials themselves in.
Lots of moving displays, it's amazing that the drivers don't get distracted - because I definitely would...
"It's so slippery," Liam Lawson reports - which is wholly unsurprising from this circuit. Hadjar kicks us off with a 1m46.062s.
That's beaten by a 1m45s from Bearman, before Leclerc posts a 1m41.328s.
Plenty of dust on the road as Leclerc gets out on track - FP1 will serve as a bit of a clear-up operation.
Lots of low-drag packages, owing to the plethora of long straights. The wings are in Monza-spec, with McLaren even trimming its wing back further compared to the Italy race.
FP1 is go!
Green light at the end of the pitlane - it's time to go! Isack Hadjar is first to hit the road to get his first experience of this circuit. Gasly joins him on the track.
Bearman and Ocon also get out on track.
Five minute warning!
It's almost time to get rolling in Sin City. Hope you're suitably caffeinated!
Las Vegas weather
It's currently 14C along the Strip - and falling, which will make it tough to switch on the tyres. Expect plenty of sliding around in the opening laps as the drivers look for the grip...
...oh, and hopefully there's not going to be too many drain cover incidents this year.
2023: Carlos Sainz suffered damage from a loose manhole cover in practice
Photo by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Images
Limited edition liveries
We've got a few teams who have dressed up for the occasion in Vegas - let's take a look at the cars in unfamiliar clothing:
Sauber C45 Las Vegas livery
Photo by: Sauber
Racing Bulls team unveil their Las Vegas livery
Photo by: Rudy Carezzevoli / Getty Images
Williams Racing Las Vegas livery
Photo by: Williams F1
Alpine livery
Photo by: Alpine
F1 Las Vegas - FP1 coming up!
Good evening - or morning, wherever you're tuning in from! FP1 in Las Vegas isn't too far away, and it's the first chance for our 20 drivers to get a sense of the unique conditions expected in the Nevada night.
Soon, they'll be patrolling the Mojave - which almost makes you wish for a nuclear winter...
The Welcome to Las Vegas sign
Photo by: Simon Galloway / LAT Images via Getty Images
