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Formula 1
Las Vegas GP
F1 Las Vegas GP Live Commentary and Updates - FP3 & Qualifying
Saturday's action from the 21st round of the 2023 Formula 1 season.
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After a tough opening day of action following FP1 being called off after eight minutes due to a dislodged water value cover that sustained major damage to Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari and Esteban Ocon’s Alpine, and then FP2 being run without fans at 2:30am local time, F1 will be targeting a smoother final practice and qualifying.
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.
Final practice begins at 4:30am GMT, followed by qualifying at 8am GMT.
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Replays show the Williams driver running wide and hitting the wall at Turn 5 before the tyre departs from the car further down the straight.
Yellow flag
Albon has lost his left-rear wheel.
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Especially against Mercedes team-mate Russell who goes back to the top of the times with a 1m34.093s.
Another new personal best for Hamilton, but his 1m34.853s is only good enough for P7. The seven-time champion just seems to be lacking a few tenths here in Vegas.
Out of nowhere Sargeant has also launched himself into P3, less than two tenths off Piastri's best.
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But while that is happening Piastri goes fastest with a 1m34.491s. Times are plummeting as we head into the final 10 minutes of FP3.
Or not! The Red Bull driver runs deep at Turn 12 and has to spin his Red Bull around in the escape road.
Russell's time at the top might be short-lived as Verstappen sets a session best in sector 1...
Off track
Big lock-up for Zhou heading into Turn 1 as he runs deep.
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Albon now back into P3 with a 1m34.726s.
Hamilton as well improved to set a 1m35.516s, but it's a full second slower than his team-mate.
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Russell with a 1m34.585s to go fastest. Where did that come from?
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And it's fifth for the Australian with a 1m35.301s on the soft tyre.
Piastri is the latest to wind up for a flying lap. Going green in sector 1.
Black and white flag for Tsunoda, who cuts the pit entry line which goes against what drivers have been told by race direction.
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It's a better lap for team-mate Russell, though, who sets a 1m35.106s - just half a second off the outright pace.
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It's a personal best in sector 2 and 3 to post a 1m36.041s, but its some 1.3s behind Verstappen. An ominous sign.
But as we say that Hamilton is on a quick lap with the soft tyre, setting a personal best in sector 1.
Slight lull in proceedings as most of the field are sitting in the pits, while those out on track seem to generally be focusing on longer runs.
The second Williams of Sargeant comes perilously close to hitting the wall at Turn 5, but just avoids contact.
Albon jumps to P3 as we enter the second half of FP3. Could the Williams driver spring a surprise in qualifying later today?
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The Dutchman posts a 1m34.653s, becoming the first driver to set a sub 1m35s lap here on the Las Vegas circuit. Just another record to add to his collection this season...
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A new car to the top and it's not red! Perez sets a 1m35.146s, but is almost immediately beaten by Red Bull team-mate Verstappen.
We mentioned earlier about the long straights here in Vegas, and two of them have DRS zones.
Well, the FIA has expanded the DRS zone on the Strip by 50 metres to boost overtaking. The 6.2km layout was expected to provide plenty of action but after initial running on Thursday the race direction decided to expand the zone on the iconic Las Vegas Boulevard as the low-downforce setups the teams are using have resulted in a reduced slipstream effect.
The DRS activation point is now located 870 metres before the tight Turn 14 left-hander instead of 820 metres.
Well, the FIA has expanded the DRS zone on the Strip by 50 metres to boost overtaking. The 6.2km layout was expected to provide plenty of action but after initial running on Thursday the race direction decided to expand the zone on the iconic Las Vegas Boulevard as the low-downforce setups the teams are using have resulted in a reduced slipstream effect.
The DRS activation point is now located 870 metres before the tight Turn 14 left-hander instead of 820 metres.
Off track
An oversteer moment for Bottas heading into Turn 12 as the Finn takes to the escape road before rejoining.
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Verstappen's first effort meanwhile - a 1m36.172s - is good enough for P3 on the soft tyre.
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Another lap, another Ferrari fastest. Leclerc with a 1m35.908s.
Ricciardo is the latest driver to lock-up and run wide at the Turn 14 left-hander.
His Red Bull team-mate Perez sets his first time of the session, a 1m36.688s on the soft tyre which is currently good enough for P5.
Twenty minutes into the session and Verstappen heads out for the first time. Clearly the reigning champion, who was unimpressed with the Las Vegas circuit's layout yesterday, is in no rush to experience it again.
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Ferrari has it all to themselves at the top of the times, as Sainz jumps to P1 with a 1m35.939s.
Some slow motion shots of Norris fighting to keep his McLaren pointing in the right direction. The cooler conditions coupled with the long straights and heavy braking zones of the Las Vegas track are certainly making it a challenge for drivers.
The Haas driver is currently third fastest with a 1m37.597s.
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Leclerc back to the top with a 1m36.508s. Although not everyone is happy about the Ferrari driver, as Magnussen comes over the radio to complain about being impeded.
Ten minutes into FP3 and we have only had 11 of the 20 cars head out on to the circuit.
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Bottas back to the top on a 1m38.351s, while team-mate Zhou has a huge lock-up on the far side of the circuit.
Worth noting that the fastest time from FP2 yesterday, also by Leclerc, was a 1m35.265s, so we are still some way off those times.
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Sainz hits the top of the times, posting a 1m39.367s on the medium tyre. But immediately he's beaten by Ferrari team-mate Leclerc who sets a 1m38.953s.
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Bottas is to the top of the times with a 1m39.875s on the soft tyre. Several seconds clear of Alfa Romeo team-mate Zhou.
Moment for Sainz into Turn 1 as he runs in deep but quickly rejoins and resumes his lap. No damage done.
By: Autosport Staff
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