When the madness of Las Vegas meets the ruthless world of Formula 1, it’s no surprise that adrenaline is at its peak. George Russell, the Mercedes driver, took the lead in the final practice session of the 2025 Las Vegas Grand Prix, leaving behind the reigning champion Max Verstappen. Meanwhile, McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri faced unexpected troubles, looking more like lost tourists than speed gladiators.
Unpredictable weather
With a wet track reported by race control even before the session began, the first drivers opted for intermediate tires. Oscar Piastri, for McLaren, was the first to hit the asphalt and stopped the clock at 1:47.162. For a moment, one might have thought he was playing hide and seek with his competitors, but quickly, Lewis Hamilton from Ferrari and Esteban Ocon from Haas followed in his wake, like sharks around a school of fish. Hamilton then delivered a masterful lap in 1:45.758, taking the lead just before Verstappen came to stir things up.
The battle of titans
As the track began to dry and conditions became more favorable, Hamilton confirmed his dominance with a lap in 1:43.137. However, Lando Norris, like a sprinter at the start of an Olympic race, managed to edge past Hamilton by a breath, setting a time of 1:43.078. A thrilling duel that could have unfolded in an action movie!
As the session progressed, the competition grew fiercer. Indeed, Hamilton was not about to relinquish the throne easily. He reclaimed the lead with a 1:42.809, distancing Norris by 0.269 seconds. The tension was palpable in the paddock: engineers watched their screens like football fans waiting for the decisive free kick. As Kimi Antonelli, a young talent from Mercedes, joined the fray with a lap in 1:42.991, Norris attempted to launch on slick tires too early and ended up in the gravel like a novice.
Chaos and excellence
Hamilton seemed ready to let his experience speak but nearly caused an incident by narrowly missing a Racing Bull in the final corners. This mix of agility and adrenaline resembled a rock concert where every note must be perfectly placed to avoid cacophony. In the end, it was Yuki Tsunoda who managed to shine, moving from the shadows to the spotlight with a lap in 1:42.499. Unfortunately for him, this first place was short-lived.
Charles Leclerc quickly responded with an impressive time of 1:41.867, relegating Tsunoda to second place like a joker who missed his shot in a poker game. The times kept rolling in as Verstappen, like a hungry beast, finally decided to show his claws with a lap in 1:39.156.
Strategies in full swing
Improvements continued to flood in at a frantic pace. With four minutes left in the session, Liam Lawson briefly surged to the top before being dethroned by George Russell and Alex Albon. The teams struggled like Michelin-starred chefs trying to concoct the perfect dish under pressure. Ultimately, Russell took the reins with a dazzling performance in 1:34.281.
Verstappen, for his part, was well on his way to contesting this spectacular performance but was abruptly halted by traffic on the track, slipping onto a wet area and ruining his time. He finished in the shadow of Russell with a still impressive time in P2.
Unexpected results for McLaren
In a surprising turn for fans and experts of motorsport, the McLaren drivers finished their session at the bottom of the standings: P19 for Norris and P20 for Piastri. A true disappointment for a team aiming for the title this season. They suffered from technical issues during qualifying simulations, like two gladiators finding themselves without armor in the arena.
2025 FIA Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix – Free Practice 3 Results
1 George Russell (Mercedes) 1:34.054
2 Max Verstappen (Red Bull/Honda RBPT) 1:34.281
3 Alexander Albon (Williams/Mercedes) 1:34.875
4 Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls/Honda RBPT) 1:35.169
5 Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) 1:35.269
6 Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) 1:35.385
7 Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls/Honda RBPT) 1:35.439
8 Lance Stroll (Aston Martin/Mercedes) 1:35.533
9 Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin/Mercedes) 1:35.540
10 Pierre Gasly (Alpine/Renault) 1:35.562
It’s now race time! As we head to the starting grid, stay tuned to see if Russell can maintain his position or if Verstappen and his rivals can turn the tables under this blazing Las Vegas sky.
Official sources:
- FIA Formula One Championship
