Briton George Russell (Mercedes) set the best time in the 3rd free practice session of the Las Vegas Grand Prix on Friday, before qualifying scheduled for midnight (local time, 9:00 a.m. Paris time). Russell beat Australian Oscar Piastri (McLaren-Mercedes) by 398/1000 and American Logan Sargeant (Williams-Mercedes) by 552/1000.
The fastest time, the Dutchman Max Verstappen (Red Bull), already assured of being world champion for the third time in a row at the end of the season, finally set the 4th fastest time, ahead of his teammate Sergio Perez. The Thai Alexander Albon (6th time) hit a wall and lost his left rear wheel 5 minutes from the end of the session, which was then stopped.
Thursday, the great return of F1 to Las Vegas 41 years after the last Grand Prix, was disrupted by a manhole cover problem. The first free practice session was stopped after less than ten minutes when Spaniard Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) hit the cover of a manhole, heavily damaging his car in the process. The second practice session was then delayed by 2h30, dragging on until the end of the night.
George Russell (GBR/Mercedes) 1:34.093 Oscar Piastri (AUS/McLaren-Mercedes) 1:34.491 Logan Sargeant (USA/Williams-Mercedes) 1:34.645 Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull) 1:34.653 Sergio Pérez (MEX/ Red Bull) 1:34.706 Alexander Albon (THA/Williams-Mercedes) 1:34.726 Fernando Alonso (ESP/Aston Martin-Mercedes) 1:34.788 Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) 1:34.853 Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Alfa Romeo-Ferrari ) 1:34.908 Kevin Magnussen (DEN/Haas-Ferrari) 1:35.067 Lando Norris (GBR/McLaren-Mercedes) 1:35.089 Nico Hülkenberg (GER/Haas-Ferrari) 1:35.112 Lance Stroll (CAN/Aston Martin-Mercedes) 1:35.253Esteban Ocon (FRA/Alpine-Renault) 1:35.297Zhou Guanyu (CHN/Alfa Romeo-Ferrari) 1:35.881Charles Leclerc (MON/Ferrari) 1:35.908Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP/Ferrari) 1:35.939Yuki Tsunoda (JPN/AlphaTauri-Red Bull) 1:36.087 Pierre Gasly (FRA/Alpine-Renault) 1:36.485 Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/AlphaTauri-Red Bull) 1:37.778