Ferrari's Shine in Las Vegas FP2
In an electrifying second practice session for the Las Vegas Grand Prix, Charles Leclerc of Ferrari emerged as the pace-setter, outperforming his teammate Carlos Sainz and Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso.
This extended FP2 session, running into the early hours of Friday, showcased the drivers' adaptability and strategic prowess under the dazzling lights of the Las Vegas Strip Circuit.
The session, spanning 90 minutes, began with numerous drivers adjusting to the challenging 6.201-kilometre, 17-turn track, resulting in a series of lock-ups and off-track excursions. Max Verstappen, consistent with his formidable form this season, initially led with a 1m 38.209s lap on Pirelli’s medium tyres, momentarily edging ahead of the Ferrari duo and Alex Albon from Williams.
As the session progressed, a gripping duel unfolded between Verstappen and Leclerc, with Verstappen skillfully overtaking Leclerc in a tight cornering sequence. Leclerc's light-hearted remark over the radio, “Max is racing already”, underscored the competitive yet congenial spirit of the session.
The drivers soon switched to qualifying simulations, pushing their cars on soft tyres. Verstappen, despite a near-miss with the wall, set a high benchmark, only for several rivals to surpass him as track conditions improved and confidence grew. Ultimately, Leclerc secured the top spot with a remarkable 1m 35.265s lap, over half a second faster than Sainz and Alonso. Sainz, facing a grid penalty, showed remarkable resilience in clinching the second spot.
Red Bull's Sergio Perez claimed the fourth position, outperforming teammate Verstappen who settled for sixth. Valtteri Bottas, in his Alfa Romeo, impressed with a fifth-place finish, highlighting the competitiveness of the midfield teams.
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Nico Hulkenberg's commendable seventh place in his Haas was slightly marred by a warning flag for not adhering to pit entry instructions. He was followed by Lance Stroll in the other Aston Martin. Mercedes had a subdued start with Lewis Hamilton and George Russell placing ninth and twelfth, respectively.
The session also saw commendable performances from McLaren's Lando Norris, Haas's Kevin Magnussen, and Alpine's Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon. AlphaTauri drivers, Yuki Tsunoda and Daniel Ricciardo, along with Alfa Romeo's Zhou Guanyu, faced challenges, while American Logan Sargeant, despite the home crowd's support, struggled to match the pace.
As teams and drivers analyze the data and refine their strategies, anticipation builds for the final practice and the inaugural Las Vegas GP qualifying session. The stage is set for a weekend of high-octane racing, with Ferrari and Leclerc leading the charge under the glittering Las Vegas skyline.
