P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Mercedes had an encouraging start to the Las Vegas Grand Prix – with the team topping both FP1 and FP2 with Lewis Hamilton.
Toto Wolff referred to Mercedes as “dirty track champions” in F1 due to their strong performance at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, where Lewis Hamilton led both FP1 and FP2. George Russell followed in second and third place in the W15, showing good pace in low grip conditions. The Mercedes car excels in low grip and cooler temperatures, with Vegas expected to remain cool throughout the weekend. Despite Hamilton’s challenging Sao Paulo weekend, Wolff believes the team has gained an edge through consistent performance.
Wolff expressed concern over the team’s tendency to lose pace as track conditions improve but noted the significant gap Mercedes had in FP1. He suggested they may need to adjust their strategy to maintain their advantage in the following sessions. However, he remains cautious about maintaining their lead and competitiveness for the remainder of the Grand Prix.
