George Russell tops final Las Vegas Grand Prix practice in changing conditions
22nd November 2025Mercedes’ George Russell topped the timing boards as the Briton pipped Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in the changing conditions ahead of qualifying at the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix.
Feature image credit: Jiri Krenek // Mercedes F1
Following the earlier downpour of rain, the green-walled intermediate tyres made their first-ever appearance at the Las Vegas GP weekend, after two consecutive seasons of not being required at the city situated in the Nevada desert.
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri was the first driver to venture out onto the damp track, with the intermediate tyres, followed by Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton. The Australian quickly reported the track was too slippery for the slick tyres, but his intermediates were being punished as the conditions were nearly too dry for the wet-weather tyre.
Williams’ Alexander Albon was the first driver to bring out a yellow flag as the London-born driver bailed onto the escape road, as he believed he was not going to make the corner at turn five. He struggled to get the car turned around but soon returned to the track without further issues.
At the halfway point of the session, McLaren’s Lando Norris became the first driver to venture out onto the track with the dry-slick tyres, booted with the red-walled soft compound tyres.
On his first timed lap, on the softs, Norris had to tackle the car snapping out under acceleration at the first corner. The car struggled with traction under acceleration, with both understeer and oversteer in the slower-speed chicanes.
However, the rest of the field followed suit and ventured out onto the circuit with the soft compound tyres.
Hamilton had a close run-in with Racing Bull’s Liam Lawson, as the two nearly collided down the Las Vegas Strip. Hamilton was on a fast lap whilst the other was jostling for track position amongst two other cars.
By the time Hamilton arrived on the scene, he had to take evasive action to avoid a collision with the Racing Bull.
The two McLarens pitted at the end of the session, and it appeared they had technical issues, as the mechanics wheeled the two cars back into the pit lane with their insulating gloves on. However, it was reported that there was a loss of telemetry.
So, where did everyone finish in the final hour of practice?
- George Russell, Mercedes
- Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
- Alexander Albon, Williams
- Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls
- Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
- Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
- Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls
- Lance Stroll, Aston Martin
- Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin
- Pierre Gasly, Alpine
- Oliver Bearman, Haas
- Carlos Sainz, Williams
- Gabriel Bortoleto, Kick Sauber
- Esteban Ocon, Haas
- Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
- Franco Colapinto, Alpine
- Nico Hulkenberg, Kick Sauber
- Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing
- Oscar Piastri, McLaren
- Lando Norris, McLaren
Hi, I’m Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion.
I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I’ve loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.
Kamron Kent
Hi, I'm Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion. I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I've loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.
