P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Mercedes has made the strongest start to the Las Vegas Grand Prix weekend. Mark Hughes explains why and the rival F1 team that’s in the best shape to beat it
Lando Norris expressed confidence in his driving capabilities after ranking second in FP2 at the cold, low-grip Las Vegas Grand Prix track. The challenging conditions included a lack of grip, high minimum tyre pressures, and low-downforce wings, causing the tyres to struggle for traction on the track surface. Drivers found it difficult to gauge the grip limit, leading to frequent use of escape roads during practice sessions. Lewis Hamilton set top times in both practices, showing strong performance in the cool conditions. However, he remains cautious about the car’s race pace compared to its qualifying speed. Charles Leclerc noted that the Mercedes cars were aggressive on the tyres, which contributed to their strong performance, while Ferrari showed promising signs but faced challenges in maximizing their speed.
