Image: Holiness X@F1BigData
By Benjamin Foster | Staff Writer with Agencies
The Formula 1 circus hit Las Vegas on Thursday with a clear signal that the fight for pole position will be among the tightest of the season. Free Practice 2 (FP2) highlighted a fast and consistent McLaren, with Lando Norris leading the session and putting the team in the spotlight. Analysis of lap times, soft tires, and short-run pace suggests that at least four teams are vying for the front row at the 2025 Las Vegas Grand Prix.
McLaren has never broken into the top six in qualifying or the race in the previous two Las Vegas editions, but the scenario in 2025 is markedly different. Norris topped FP2 despite rivals being limited in setting clean laps due to a red flag. The British driver noted that the car is at a much higher level than last year, a view reinforced by telemetry data. The data indicate McLaren leads the single-lap pace, just 0.01 seconds ahead of Red Bull and 0.04 seconds ahead of Ferrari, a significant improvement over past performances.
Oscar Piastri, who managed only two representative laps due to the session stoppage, also emphasized the potential of the MCL39. While long-run pace data remain incomplete, the Australian highlighted “positive aspects everywhere” and believes there is still room for improvement ahead of qualifying.
Red Bull remains formidable on Thursday. Yuki Tsunoda enjoyed his strongest start to a weekend this year, matching Max Verstappen on medium tires in FP1 and outperforming the three-time world champion on softs before FP2 was interrupted. The pair demonstrated a balanced car setup, suggesting minor tweaks rather than major changes for the evening session. Should Tsunoda maintain his pace, Red Bull could see both cars competing for the front row, crucial in the fight for the team’s championship standings. Tsunoda stressed how tight the midfield is, noting four teams are running closely and expressing confidence in finding additional speed for qualifying.
Ferrari also demonstrated strength, as seen in the previous Las Vegas races. Charles Leclerc led FP1 and indicated that the SF-25 is well-balanced for the weekend, despite setbacks at the São Paulo Grand Prix. Lewis Hamilton produced a solid performance with Mercedes, though he could not complete a flying lap on soft tires in FP2 due to the red flag. Leclerc acknowledged that McLaren, Red Bull, and Mercedes are “clearly in the mix,” forecasting a fiercely competitive qualifying session.
Mercedes rounds out the top quartet for the weekend. The team impressed during long runs, with Kimi Antonelli continuing a strong streak from previous races. Sector analysis shows Mercedes excels in slow corners but loses time on the straights, leaving it approximately 0.12 seconds behind McLaren in single-lap simulations. Andrew Shovlin noted that George Russell had the pace to place third in FP2 before the stoppage, and the team believes aerodynamic adjustments could close the gap, putting them firmly in the pole fight.
With McLaren, Red Bull, Ferrari, and Mercedes separated by mere hundredths of a second, qualifying promises to be one of the most thrilling of the season. Norris arrives as the early favorite, yet Las Vegas has proven that nothing is guaranteed, particularly with low temperatures, tricky tire warm-ups, and the unpredictable nature of the urban track.
The stage is set for an electrifying showdown under the neon lights, where fractions of a second could determine the front row and set the tone for the weekend’s race.