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Formula 1 Las Vegas GP

F1 Las Vegas GP Live Commentary and Updates – Race

Minute-by-minute updates for the 2023 Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix

Caesars Palace

After a difficult Friday with FP1 being called off after eight minutes due to a dislodged water value cover that caused damage to Carlos Sainz's Ferrari and Esteban Ocon's Alpine, and then FP2 being run in front of empty grandstands, F1 enjoyed a far more positive Saturday. 

Charles Leclerc secured pole position with Max Verstappen set to line up in second after Sainz was hit with a 10-place penalty - this coming after Ferrari replaced his battery as part of the repair work needed following his early-event incident. 

George Russell is third but Lewis Hamilton and Sergio Perez start 10th and 11th. 

The grand prix will get under way at 6am GMT.

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Weather check: It is dry and chilly. The air temperature is 18C with the track just above at 18.9C. There's a slight breeze that is acting as a headwind down the long back straight before the drivers get back on the Strip.
Right, the pre-race madness is over and now the serious business begins. Fifty laps of the Las Vegas Strip circuit to come.
National anthem time! Donny Osmond is singing the US tune. His rendition is like a Christmas song performed in front of a roaring fire and a tree.
There's running repairs going on to the rear wing of Verstappen's car amid the grid walk. All looks under control, unlike the grid.
"The greatest sporting event in Las Vegas history," according to DJ and producer Steve Aoki. The race hasn't even started yet.
The grid is absolutely packed with stars, team members, media and hangers-on. No sign of the drivers, though, who are probably trying to avoid the stampede.
For all of glitz and the glamour, let's take a brief moment pre-race to focus on the, er, racing. Many will target a one-stopper (assuming no safety car interventions) but tyre graining has been a major issue this weekend. It seems if the tyres fall out of the mystical window, it will trigger many into two-stops.
But there's been a bit of trouble in the pre-race festivities, one of the cars taking around the drivers on the parade has dropped fluid on the starting grid - right on Verstappen's second place slot. A clean up job has been undertaken.

Photo by: Filip Cleeren

A mere 21 hours after qualifying finished, the race will, all being well, get going still on Saturday (in Vegas at least). The pitlane is now closed and all 20 drivers have made it to the grid - no pitlane starters, too!
After nearly no running in FP1 (those pesky water valve covers) to no fans in FP2, the track action got back to normal for final practice and qualifying - resulting in Leclerc claiming pole in the early hours of Saturday morning.
We are just a little over 40 minutes from lights out in Vegas. What a weekend it has been so far, with highs and lows, but can it finish with a final flourish?
Lights green
Welcome to the party! Here we go for the Las Vegas Grand Prix – the pitlane is open and the drivers are on the way to the grid.

By: Autosport Staff

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