Second Free Practice Results & Report 2023 Las Vegas F1 GP

Event: Las Vegas Grand Prix
Track: Las Vegas Strip Circuit

Zhou Guanyu, Alfa Romeo C43 during the Las Vegas GP at Streets of Las Vegas

Weather: dry 14°C
Tarmac: dry 15°C
Humidity: 73%
Wind: 1.8 km/h SW
Pressure: 944 mbar

Second Free Practice Report

Leclerc Dominates, Red Bull Struggles in Las Vegas FP2

Under the dazzling lights of the Las Vegas Strip, Formula One cars roared into action for the second free practice session of the 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix. Charles Leclerc emerged as the star of the night, topping the timesheets and completing a Ferrari clean sweep of Friday's practices. However, it was a day mixed with drama and challenge for many teams, including a somewhat struggling session for the usually dominant Red Bull.

Ferrari's Fortunes Shine Bright

Leclerc's performance in the Ferrari was nothing short of spectacular. Despite the day's challenges, he managed to maintain his composure and skill, leading the pack with an impressive lap time that left rivals trailing. Carlos Sainz, following a challenging FP1 that necessitated significant repairs including a new chassis, showed resilience by clocking the second-fastest time, albeit half a second behind his teammate.

Halfway Order

Halfway this elongated 1,5 hour second free practice session the top 10 order was (all driven on Soft Pirelli tyres): 1. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) - 1:36.660 min, 2. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) +0.003s, 3. Alex Albon (Williams) +0.028s, 4. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) +0.082s, 5. George Russell (Mercedes) +0.230s, 6. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) +0.300s, 7. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) +0.421s, 8. Sergio Pérez (Red Bull) +0.526s, 9. Guanyu Zhou (Alfa Romeo) +1.350s & 10. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) +1.360s.

Red Bull's Rocky Road

Red Bull experienced a less than ideal session with Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez finishing sixth and fourth respectively. Verstappen, who has had a memorable season, faced difficulties including an off-track excursion at Turn 5, leaving him nearly a second off Leclerc’s pace. The team, known for their ability to bounce back, has work ahead before qualifying, yet they remain a formidable force not to be underestimated.

Midfield Battles and Technical Troubles

The session was not without its drama for other teams. Mercedes' George Russell and Alpine's Esteban Ocon both had off-track moments, indicative of the challenging nature of the Las Vegas circuit. McLaren showed signs of improvement, with Lando Norris climbing to 10th despite technical issues earlier in the session.

Haas, with their split car specifications, drew attention as Nico Hulkenberg, opting for the older model, impressively secured the fourth-fastest time. His teammate Kevin Magnussen, in the new spec car, will be one to watch as the weekend progresses.

Track Intricacies and Challenges

Drivers continued to explore the limits of the new Las Vegas Strip Circuit. Several, including Fernando Alonso and Zhou Guanyu, found themselves running wide as they pushed their cars to the edge. The circuit, with its fresh surface, posed a unique challenge in grip levels, which teams had to rapidly adapt to.

Looking Ahead

As the first day of running concluded, the teams are left to analyze and strategize for the upcoming final practice session and the all-important qualifying. With Leclerc's strong showing and the close competition seen in FP2, the stage is set for an electrifying weekend of racing in Las Vegas.

The quickest sector times in this 9 min long FP1 were:

• 27.117 sec. by Charles Leclerc (Ferrari SF-23 #16)
• 31.288 sec. by Max Verstappen (Red Bull RB19 #1)
• 36.473 sec. by Charles Leclerc (Ferrari SF-23 #16)

FP2 Times Table 2023 Las Vegas GP

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