Mercedes roared into the Las Vegas Grand Prix weekend with unexpected dominance, leaving even their own drivers amazed. Lewis Hamilton dominated both practice sessions on Thursday evening, with George Russell hot on his heels in second and third. After a difficult outing in Sao Paulo, the Brackley-based team’s impressive performance on the strip circuit has caught eyes in the paddock.
Russell, who spoke openly about the confusion within the team, confessed: “Incredible day. I’d love to tell you why… we are scratching our heads a little bit.” While Hamilton’s superior performance set the tone, Russell stressed that the car felt unusually strong on the brand new road course.
Still, Russell remained cautious, pointing out the ever-changing track conditions. “Just because we were fast today doesn’t necessarily mean we can do it again tomorrow,” he warned, noting how much faster the track will become as it clears and rubber is applied.
The strong showing bucks recent trends for Mercedes, which often starts fast on Fridays only to see rivals catch up over the course of the weekend. Russell dismissed the notion that Mercedes was “losing performance”, instead attributing rivals’ gains to sandbagging during practice.
Nevertheless, the significant lead Mercedes had on Thursday gives hope for a competitive weekend. “The gap we showed this morning and this evening was pretty significant,” Russell said. “I just hope we can maintain the form.”
The unexpected pace has set the stage for a dramatic duel as the rest of the field tries to catch up. Whether Mercedes can maintain this advantage until qualifying and the race remains the biggest question of the weekend.
**How did Mercedes perform in practice for the Las Vegas Grand Prix?**
## World Today News Live: Las Vegas GP Preview
**Host:** Welcome back to World Today News Live! This weekend, the Formula 1 circus shines its spotlight on the dazzling Las Vegas strip for the inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix. Joining us today to discuss the surprising turn of events in practice are former Fedral 1 racer, David “D-Mac” McNamara, and motorsport journalist extraordinaire, Sarah Jones.
**David McNamara:** It’s great to be here, thanks for having me!
**Sarah Jones:** Always a pleasure!
**Host:** Let’s jump right in. David, Mercedes seemed to come out of nowhere today. After a difficult race in Brazil, what do you make of their performance on this new track?
**[Opening Act: The Mercedes Resurgence]**
**David McNamara:** This is a huge story, isn’t it? I hear echoes of 2014 with that dominant run after a difficult start to the season. Of course, it’s just practice, but for Mercedes to be this strong, especially after the struggles in Sao Paulo, it really raises eyebrows.
**Host:**
Sarah, you’ve been covering the sport closely all season. How much do these practice performances actually tell us about race day?
**Sarah Jones:** It’s a tricky question. As George Russell himself pointed out, track conditions change rapidly, and Friday doesn’t always reflect Sunday. But, this gap was significant – something we haven’t seen from Mercedes for a while. It suggests there’s something different about their set-up this weekend. What’s changed? Is it this specific track, or are they finally finding the sweet spot they’ve been searching for all season?
**Host:**
That’s the million-dollar question. David, George Russell mentioned that even the Mercedes team were scratching their heads. Do you think this performance might catch their rivals off guard?
**[The Competitive Landscape: Can anyone catch them?]**
**David McNamara:** Absolutely. Everyone will be working feverishly to dissect the Mercedes data overnight. Ferrari and Red Bull, in particular, will be pushing hard to close the gap. Remember, Hamilton has always been strong on new circuits, so maybe that track knowledge is part of the equation too.
**Sarah Jones:**
The mind games are already starting. George dismissed the notion that they were “losing performance” over the weekend, implying that other teams are simply sandbagging during practice. It’ll be fascinating to see how the weekend unfolds. Can Mercedes maintain this pace, or will we see a classic F1 fightback?
**Host:**
The tension is building! Sarah, looking at the championship picture, how does this Mercedes performance impact the fight for second place, with Ferrari and Red Bull still in contention?
**Sarah Jones:** A dominant Mercedes weekend would be a headache for both Red Bull and Ferrari. They’ve been trailing each other closely, hoping to capitalize on any Mercedes slip-ups. A strong Mercedes showing, especially with Hamilton on form, throws a major wrench in those plans.
**[Future Predictions and Fan Excitement]**
**Host:**
So, looking ahead, David, what are your predictions for the weekend? Will Mercedes hold on to this advantage?
**David McNamara:** I’m certain it won’t be easy. This new track with its high speeds and unique layout presents challenges for everyone. But if Mercedes can carry this momentum into qualifies and the race, they will be in a prime position to win. It would be a fantastic story arc for Lewis Hamilton, especially given his recent performances.
**Host:**
What an exciting addition to the F1 calendar! This Las Vegas Grand Prix promises to be one for the history books, especially with these unexpected developments.
Thank you both for your insightful analysis. We’ll keep a close eye on the track and bring you all the latest updates throughout the weekend!
