Lewis Hamilton laid down a dominant marker in Formula 1’s opening practice session for the Las Vegas Grand Prix, topping the timesheets with a 1m35.001s lap. This effort, achieved in the closing moments, ensured a Mercedes 1-2, with George Russell 0.396s adrift in second. The session, defined by rapidly improving track conditions, showcased Hamilton’s ability to adapt and extract the most from his car when it mattered.

The unique Las Vegas Strip circuit, making its debut on the F1 calendar, presented a low-grip challenge as practice began. Drivers initially battled a thin layer of dust on the track, leading Liam Lawson to liken the conditions to driving in the wet. This resulted in a slow start to the session, with teams opting for exploratory runs on the medium compound tyre to gather data.

As the session progressed, the track began to rubber in, significantly lowering lap times. Early benchmark laps, such as Max Verstappen’s 1m44.239s on soft tyres, were swiftly eclipsed. Kevin Magnussen set a 1m42.645s on mediums, marking the start of a trend toward sub-100-second laps.

George Russell was the first to dip into the 1m39s bracket with a 1m39.595s lap on mediums, only to be surpassed by Hamilton’s 1m38.155s. Both Mercedes drivers continued to find pace, with Hamilton later setting a 1m36.927s that held firm until Ferrari drivers Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz made their moves on the soft compound.

Leclerc’s 1m36.430s briefly put him atop the standings, with Sainz lowering the benchmark further. However, the Mercedes duo returned to reclaim the spotlight in the final minutes. Russell’s 1m35.619s, aided by a tow from Pierre Gasly, initially edged out Hamilton. But the seven-time world champion responded decisively, finding nearly half a second to end the session with a commanding 0.4s advantage over his teammate.

Lando Norris showcased McLaren’s potential with a solid third-place finish, though his time of 1m35.954s was nearly a full second off Hamilton’s. Unlike the Mercedes drivers, Norris opted to complete the session on medium tyres rather than chase soft-tyre performance.

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz rounded out the top five, split by championship leader Max Verstappen in fifth. Despite running softs earlier in the session, Verstappen’s ultimate pace fell short of Ferrari’s late-session improvements.

Fernando Alonso secured seventh for Aston Martin, ahead of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri. Pierre Gasly (Alpine) and Sergio Perez (Red Bull) completed the top ten, with Perez struggling to match his teammate’s pace on the evolving track surface.

Mercedes’ strong showing in Las Vegas suggests they are well-prepared to take advantage of the unique circuit conditions. Hamilton’s ability to find time at the session’s climax highlights his experience and adaptability, while Russell’s pace confirms the team’s competitiveness.

As teams continue to dial in their setups for qualifying and the race, the evolving track conditions will remain a critical factor. The Las Vegas Grand Prix promises to deliver excitement, with Mercedes, Ferrari, and Red Bull all showing glimpses of potential.