F1 Las Vegas GP | Free Practice 1, results: Leclerc leads, Hamilton behind
Free Practice 1 of the 2025 Las Vegas GP concluded with Charles Leclerc in the lead, after an action-packed session with constant position changes. The track gradually gained grip, but drivers initially found the surface very slippery, causing errors and long runs for several drivers.
2025 Formula 1 Las Vegas GP Free Practice 1 Timing Results
| DRIVER | TEAM | TIME | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charles Leclerc | Scuderia Ferrari | 1:34.802 |
| 2 | Alexander Albon | Williams | +0.166 |
| 3 | Yuki Tsunoda | Red Bull | +0.269 |
| 4 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | +0.307 |
| 5 | Carlos Sainz | Williams | +0.377 |
| 6 | Lando Norris | McLaren | +0.456 |
| 7 | Isack Hadjar | Racing Bulls | +0.497 |
| 8 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | +0.648 |
| 9 | George Russell | Mercedes | +0.732 |
| 10 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | +0.736 |
| 11 | Lewis Hamilton | Scuderia Ferrari | +0.759 |
| 12 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine | +0.787 |
| 13 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls | +0.907 |
| 14 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | +0.944 |
| 15 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin | +1.092 |
| 16 | Oliver Bearman | Haas | +1.188 |
| 17 | Esteban Ocon | Haas | +1.321 |
| 18 | Nico Hulkenberg | Stake Sauber | +1.368 |
| 19 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Stake Sauber | +1.596 |
| 20 | Franco Colapinto | Alpine | +1.956 |
F1 Las Vegas GP, Free Practice 1 Results
The session started at 1:30 AM (Italian time) with the green light, and Isack Hadjar was first on track with Medium tires. Teams immediately began collecting data, also considering possible rain expected in upcoming sessions. After the first laps, Pierre Gasly took the fastest time with 1:41.000 ahead of Carlos Sainz and Leclerc, while Lewis Hamilton only entered the track five minutes after the start.
With the track constantly improving, Charles Leclerc took the lead for the first time with 1:39.733, but Hadjar moved back ahead shortly after, followed by further changes. Drivers complained about low grip and significant dust being kicked up by cars on the straights.
The session intensified in the second half. Verstappen, Russell, Piastri, and other top drivers took to the track with new Medium tires, while Alonso remained the only one on Softs at that point. As the track evolved, Pierre Gasly returned to the top with 1:37.990, while Hamilton recorded a positive first stint after adjusting his seat belts in the pit box.
Times progressively improved: Max Verstappen took the lead with 1:36.493, with Piastri running wide at Turn 7 and Gasly spinning at Turn 14. Lando Norris brushed the wall exiting Turn 12 but continued without damage.
Past two-thirds of the session, Leclerc set a strong 1:35.281 on Soft tires, ahead of Hamilton and Russell. Shortly after, Verstappen and Antonelli also made their attempts, with the world champion further lowering the benchmark to 1:35.109.
The final part featured the first long runs: Antonelli and Verstappen switched to Medium tires for race pace simulation, while McLaren began improving with Norris and Piastri, though both remained far from the top. However, Norris continued making mistakes at Turn 12, running wide multiple times, almost appearing like a replay.
In the closing stages, Alex Albon surprised by moving into second position, just 166 thousandths behind Leclerc. Meanwhile, Hamilton and Leclerc also switched back to Mediums for some race configuration laps.
The checkered flag waved at 2:30, marking the end of free practice 1. Charles Leclerc finished the session in the lead ahead of Albon and Verstappen, confirming Ferrari’s strong start in this first session on a track that demanded quick adaptation and precision from the drivers.
