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Formula 1 Las Vegas GP

F1 Las Vegas GP Live Commentary and Updates - FP1 & FP2

Friday's action from the 21st round of the 2023 Formula 1 season.

Atmosphere

After all the hype and the glitzy build-up, the most anticipated race of the year is here as F1 returns to Las Vegas for the first time in over 40 years.

The Las Vegas GP is the penultimate race of the 2023 season and provides an all-new challenge to the teams and the drivers, on a street track built around the famous city Strip.

The first practice session of the Las Vegas GP weekend starts at 4:30am GMT, followed by second practice at 8:00am GMT.

 

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The latest from the FIA: "We’re not going to resume as it’s going to take time to understand the issue and take any necessary actions to remedy."
TV replays show Sainz getting an almighty bump running down the Strip, which wrecks his car, and that hints at a drain cover or debris that has come loose. A similar thing happened to Russell in Azerbaijan a few years back.
The FIA race stewards have come out to inspect Sainz's damaged car in the pitlane, which is very unusual, so it points to a major safety issue that is being looked at.
Here's the latest from the FIA: "We are currently looking at an issue with a drain cover, which is the reason for the current delay."
Sainz's Ferrari has made it back to the pitlane and appears to be sporting a lot of floor damage.
So, that's it for FP1. There was eight-and-a-half minutes of running before the red flag, and then 11 minutes after the red flag it was displayed that the session was ended early.
Uh oh, race control states the session will not be resumed. Something is up.
Everyone else is back in the pitlane, with various adjustments under way up and down the garages.
Replays of Sainz's stop shows him appearing to hit a bump as his car jolts as he lifts off throttle, with the yellow flags already out, and then his engine cuts out. His steering wheel tells him to stop and turn off the engine. Strange.
Just before the red flag, Leclerc posted a new best of anyone, a 1m40.909s, which is 2.5s up on nearest challenger Hulkenberg. At least one Ferrari has started strongly.
This is the last thing any of the drivers would have wanted given it is eating into valuable track time with the FP1 clock continuing to tick down. Sainz hops out of his Ferrari as he awaits recovery.
Red flag
Ah, Sainz can go no further just metres away from the pit entry and that has caused a red flag. It appears a mechanical issue for the Ferrari.
Yellow flag
The first yellow flags of the session are out, in the final sector, as Sainz has come to a halt.
Hamilton closely follows Perez through the final sector before backing off ahead of a timed lap. Learning the impact of the tow is also going to be key to this race with its long straights.
Stopwatch
The early lap times are coming in, with Leclerc leading the way with a 1m44.019s on the softs.
Quote
"Grip is very low," Russell reports over team radio. That comes as no surprise given the brand new surface, but so far it doesn't look Istanbul 2020 levels of slippery.
The Sphere, your new favourite trackside spectacle, is glowing brightly around Turn 8-9 which will hopefully not put the drivers off as they get to learn the track.
In fact, most of the drivers are out early - and all on a range of tyre compounds - with just the Williams pair and Alonso missing from the action.
Stroll is the first F1 driver on the track - a small slice of history - as he is quickly followed out by nine other runners.
Green flag
Here we go! FP1 for the Las Vegas GP has arrived!
To no surprise we have all 20 of the regular F1 drivers in action from the off - so no FP1 youngster runners - as this 60-minute session will all be about getting to know this Las Vegas street track.
All the fears about the race being a freezing cold affair are unlikely to come to pass looking at the weather forecast. For FP1 the air temperature is 16.6C and the track is a fraction higher. It will dip as the night progresses but nowhere near the 5C of the coldest F1 race in history. The 1978 Canadian GP record looks safe.
Breaking news
The last few days have all been about the hype, which was summed up by the glitzy opening ceremony which was a microcosm of what F1 wants from the Las Vegas GP. Here's what you may have missed:

https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/glitzy-f1-opening-ceremony-sets-tone-for-divisive-las-vegas-gp/10547321/
It is time to expect, pretty much, anything today. A brand new track, with the painted lines still drying, on a newly laid surface. And that is just the action on the track, off it it is just as wild - Jacques Villeneuve got married to his partner Giulia in Vegas earlier!
Good morning/evening/whatever time of day it is where you are! It is time for the start of the main show - first practice for the Las Vegas GP!

By: Autosport Staff

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