2024 Las Vegas GP FP2: Hamilton fastest again Norris in second

Mercedes showed strong pace on Friday as Lewis Hamilton topped both practice sessions at the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix.

Ben

By Ben Bush
Published on November 22, 2024

Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix FP2
Lewis Hamilton (car no. 44) in the Mercedes during FP2 of the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix // Image: Mercedes Media

Lewis Hamilton dominated both Friday practice sessions at the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix, kicking off the weekend in style as championship leader Max Verstappen struggled to find pace.

Hamilton topped the timesheets in an unrepresentative first practice and reinforced Mercedes’ strong form by setting the fastest lap in the second session in the cool Vegas conditions.

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Mercedes has thrived in cooler conditions this season, and Vegas, with night temperatures hovering around 15 degrees Celsius, plays to its strengths as the coldest venue on the F1 calendar.

Russell initially set the pace on soft tyres during second practice, but Hamilton responded with the fastest lap just before a brief red flag caused by Alex Albon, who suffered a fuel system issue with 20 minutes remaining.

Lando Norris came close, just 0.011 seconds behind Hamilton. The McLaren driver faced a pivotal weekend, needing to outscore Verstappen by at least three points in the race to keep his championship hopes alive. Red Bull’s apparent lack of speed offered a glimmer of opportunity.

Verstappen, notably, did not attempt a run on soft tyres during the second session and finished a lowly 17th, far from challenging the front runners. After a commanding wet-weather victory in Brazil, Red Bull appeared to be on the back foot again, a recurring theme in the latter half of the season.

George Russell showcased strong pace throughout the day, finishing third, just 0.190 seconds behind teammate Lewis Hamilton, who is nearing the end of his 12 seasons with Mercedes before his move to Ferrari in 2025.

Ferrari remained competitive, with Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc completing the top five, while Pierre Gasly delivered a surprise performance for Alpine, securing sixth just one race after their unexpected double podium in São Paulo.

While most drivers completed qualifying simulations, championship leader Max Verstappen and Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez struggled for consistency. Both faced lock-ups and off-track moments throughout Friday.

Las Vegas GP FP2 Results

2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix FP2, 21 November 2024

PosNoDriverCarTimeGapLaps
144Lewis HamiltonMercedes1:33.82525
24Lando NorrisMcLaren Mercedes1:33.836+0.011s25
363George RussellMercedes1:34.015+0.190s29
455Carlos SainzFerrari1:34.105+0.280s29
516Charles LeclercFerrari1:34.313+0.488s29
610Pierre GaslyAlpine Renault1:34.651+0.826s30
720Kevin MagnussenHaas Ferrari1:34.686+0.861s20
881Oscar PiastriMcLaren Mercedes1:34.798+0.973s26
927Nico HulkenbergHaas Ferrari1:34.818+0.993s24
1022Yuki TsunodaRB Honda RBPT1:34.997+1.172s23
1177Valtteri BottasKick Sauber Ferrari1:35.020+1.195s28
1231Esteban OconAlpine Renault1:35.221+1.396s26
1318Lance StrollAston Martin Aramco Mercedes1:35.251+1.426s27
1414Fernando AlonsoAston Martin Aramco Mercedes1:35.440+1.615s25
1530Liam LawsonRB Honda RBPT1:35.671+1.846s24
1624Zhou GuanyuKick Sauber Ferrari1:35.765+1.940s28
171Max VerstappenRed Bull Racing Honda RBPT1:35.834+2.009s25
1843Franco ColapintoWilliams Mercedes1:35.868+2.043s30
1911Sergio PerezRed Bull Racing Honda RBPT1:36.055+2.230s25
2023Alexander AlbonWilliams Mercedes1:39.629+5.804s4

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About The Author

Staff Writer

Ben Bush
Ben

Ben is a staff writer specialising in F1 from the 1990s to the modern era. Ben has been following Formula 1 since 1986 and is an avid researcher who loves understanding the technology that makes it one of the most exciting motorsport on the planet. He listens to podcasts about F1 on a daily basis, and enjoys reading books from the inspirational Adrian Newey to former F1 drivers.

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