Leclerc Sets the Pace in First Practice for Las Vegas Grand Prix
Table of Contents
Primary Keyword: Las Vegas Grand Prix
Secondary Keywords: Formula 1, Charles Leclerc, Max Verstappen, Lando Norris, McLaren, Ferrari, practice session, 2025 F1 season
Charles Leclerc of Ferrari topped the timesheets in the first practice session for the 2025 Las Vegas Grand Prix, held on November 20, 2025. He posted a lap time of 1:34.205,beating Williams driver Alex Albon by 0.166 seconds. Yuki Tsunoda rounded out the top three for RB.Formula 1 Official Website
Championship Battle Heats Up
The Las Vegas Grand Prix marks the beginning of the final three races of the 2025 formula 1 season, with the championship battle intensifying. Lando Norris currently leads the driver standings with 368 points, holding a 24-point advantage over his McLaren teammate, Oscar Piastri, who has 344 points. Formula 1 Standings
Max Verstappen, driving for Red Bull Racing, remains the only other driver with a mathematical chance of winning the championship, trailing Norris by 49 points (319 points). With a maximum of 83 points available across the remaining races in Las Vegas,qatar,and Abu Dhabi,Verstappen faces a significant challenge.
McLaren Struggles on the Las vegas Strip
McLaren, which has been a dominant force throughout much of the 2025 season, appeared to struggle with the unique characteristics of the Las Vegas Street Circuit during the first practice session. Norris finished sixth, 0.456 seconds behind Leclerc’s pace, after running wide at Turn 12 on multiple occasions. Piastri fared even worse,ending the session in eighth place,0.648 seconds off the leading time. Sky Sports F1 reports that the track layout doesn’t seem to suit the McLaren car’s setup.
Session Highlights and Key Performances
* Ferrari’s Strong Start: Leclerc’s fastest time indicates a perhaps strong weekend for Ferrari.
* Williams Impresses: Alex Albon’s second-place finish demonstrates the competitiveness of the Williams team.
* Red Bull’s Assessment: Verstappen finished fourth, three-tenths of a second behind leclerc, and will likely be analyzing data to improve his car’s performance for qualifying and the race.
* Other Notable Finishes: Carlos Sainz Jr. (Ferrari) finished fifth, Isack Hadjar (RB) seventh, George Russell (Mercedes) ninth, and Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) eleventh.
Looking Ahead
The second practice session is scheduled for 20:00 local time (04:00 GMT) on November 21, 2025. Teams will use this session to further refine their car setups and prepare for qualifying. The Las Vegas Grand Prix promises to be a thrilling event as the 2025 Formula 1 season nears it’s conclusion. Official Las Vegas Grand Prix Website