Vegas GP kicks off: Hamilton dominates as Norris, Verstappen struggle

Lewis Hamilton thrilled fans in Las Vegas on Thursday as he led a Mercedes one-two in the opening practice session for the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix. The seven-time world champion clocked an impressive 1:35.001, outpacing teammate George Russell by 0.396 seconds and leaving McLaren’s Lando Norris trailing by nearly a second.

“It’s an amazing feeling to start the weekend strong,” Hamilton said, reflecting on his performance under the floodlit Las Vegas Strip. The session marked a return to form after a challenging race in Brazil, which Hamilton admitted had shaken his confidence.

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Cool track conditions and a slippery surface added drama to the session, with multiple drivers misjudging their lines. Championship leader Max Verstappen and Norris both ran wide at Turn 14, but neither sustained damage. Meanwhile, Williams drivers Alex Albon and Franco Colapinto faced scrutiny for crossing the pit entry line, despite the team’s commendable effort to repair their cars after Brazil.

Mercedes timed their switch to soft tires perfectly. Russell briefly topped the timesheets with a 1:35.397 before Hamilton unleashed a blistering lap, improving by nearly four-tenths. “We’re in a good place,” Russell noted, highlighting the team’s focus on maximizing grip in challenging conditions.

The session also saw Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz in fourth and sixth, sandwiching Verstappen, who grappled with a steering issue. Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso claimed seventh, while Haas’s Kevin Magnussen showed surprising pace to finish 11th.

Drivers will now analyze the data in preparation for the second practice session at 10 PM local time. With an electrifying weekend ahead, the battle for Las Vegas promises high-stakes drama.