Practice in Las Vegas set the tone for a busy weekend. The track started cold, the grip came slowly, and the field needed time to settle. FP1 and FP2 showed progress, mistakes, red flags and a few surprises. The order shifted from session to session, so the picture for qualifying remains open. Some teams looked sharp. Others looked lost. The Strip brings out differences in setup, confidence and tyre warm up, and the first two sessions made that clear.
FP1 recap
FP1 gave Ferrari early control. Charles Leclerc set the fastest lap with a 1:34.802. He found grip early and pushed harder than most. Albon finished close behind and looked comfortable. Tsunoda also delivered a tidy session finishing P3 ahead of Verstappen in P4.
The run plan across the grid stayed cautious. The track felt dusty, the rear grip came and went, and the tyres needed heat before they responded as several drivers misjudged braking zones. McLaren struggled to show rhythm, Norris and Piastri lacked front end bite. The session suggested nothing about the true pecking order, but it gave Ferrari confidence and gave Williams a positive start.
FP2 recap
FP2 moved faster, but it did not run clean. Two red flags interrupted the session, including one for a drain cover issue near Turn 17. The stoppages broke the rhythm and prevented teams from completing full qualifying simulations.
Norris topped the session with a 1:33.602 on soft tyres. His laps looked calm and controlled. Antonelli followed within 0.029. That gap showed genuine Mercedes pace. Leclerc finished third but dealt with a gearbox issue near the end.
Because of the red flags, long run data stayed thin. Many drivers lacked extended runs on the soft tyre. Some had only one push lap before traffic or stoppages. That leaves a grey area for qualifying predictions.
Key takeaways
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Ferrari (Leclerc) found pace in both sessions.
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McLaren improved sharply from FP1 to FP2.
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Mercedes placed themselves in the fight for the front row in FP2.
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Track evolution matters. The surface gained grip rapidly.
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Tyre warm up remains the biggest factor for one lap speed.
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Disrupted running means teams still lack clarity.
What to expect in qualifying
The trends point to three teams at the front. McLaren, Ferrari and Mercedes will fight for pole. Red Bull may join the group if they find one lap stability.
Norris looks ready for another strong Saturday. His FP2 speed came from a balanced setup and confident braking. Ferrari will push him hard as Leclerc has strong pace every time the car gives him rotation. Antonelli sits close, his FP2 pace was real and if Mercedes holds the window, he will be a threat.
Qualifying prediction
Pole: Charles Leclerc
He stayed at the sharp end in both sessions. If Ferrari nails tyre warm up, he fights for pole.
P2: Lando Norris
His FP2 lap looked smooth, and the team made progress through the day.
P3: Kimi Antonelli
His FP2 performance showed confidence and control. The car suits the circuit.
P4: Max Verstappen
A strong FP1 and decent FP2. Red Bull will be faster when the track grips up.
P5: George Russell
Merrcedes looks strong over one lap. He can deliver if he finds clean track.
Wildcard: Oscar Piastri. He did not find his rhythm on Friday, but he has the speed to disrupt the top five if the balance improves overnight.
Williams also look like they could be a threat in qualifying so keep an eye out for both drivers in the top 10, as well as Racing Bulls who also had a strong showing in both FP1 & FP2, especially Hadjar.
Final view
FP1 and FP2 hinted at a close qualifying session. McLaren looks sharp. Ferrari looks consistent. Mercedes looks confident. The disrupted running leaves room for surprises, but the early form points to Leclerc, Norris, Antonelli and Verstappen.
