P1racenews AI automatic summary:
McLaren went from victory threat to double Q1 elimination – but is the MCL60 actually all that bad around Las Vegas?
McLaren’s performance in qualifying for the Las Vegas Grand Prix was disappointing, with both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri being knocked out in Q1 due to unexpected tire behavior after free practice. Although the Las Vegas Strip Circuit is not suited to McLaren’s strengths, their car had the potential to make it to Q3. However, their decision to use just one set of tires in the first segment of qualifying proved to be a mistake. Both drivers were unable to improve their lap times due to excessive tire graining. The team did not anticipate this issue based on their practice sessions, but in hindsight, using a second set of tires would have been a better choice. The low-grip track surface in Las Vegas led to graining for many teams, and while the circuit is expected to improve next year as it ages, its open nature prevents aggressive treatment that could increase grip. Despite the challenging weekend, both Norris and Piastri believe that with a different strategy, they could have advanced to Q2.
