Lewis Hamilton enjoyed his first experience of the new Las Vegas Strip Circuit but is concerned overtaking may prove difficult during Saturday’s race.
Formula 1 held its first practice session on the track on Wednesday night, though it was cut short after a valve cover on the Strip caused significant damage to two cars. Practice eventually resumed two-and-a-half hours behind schedule in the early hours of Thursday morning.Although the grip levels on the new circuit proved low as expected, drivers found conditions improved over the extended, 90-minute second session. Hamilton said he enjoyed his first proper run on the “massively challenging” course.
“It’s incredibly fast and it’s a lot of fun,” said the Mercedes driver. “I had so much fun today.
“I’m so glad that we did get to run again. Obviously it’s not great in P1 what happened but they did a great job to fix it. And [it was] an interesting session.”
The combination of low temperatures, low downforce levels and the lack of high-speed corners meant several drivers had problems with their tyres graining, including Hamilton.
“We’re at really low downforce so you’re sliding through a lot of the low-speed corners and also the high-speed corners,” he said. “You don’t have a huge amount of load because you need the straight-line speed. And then the temperatures I’m sure are having a big effect on it.”
But while several drivers have said the track’s straights, including the enormous two-kilometre run down the Strip, should encourage passing, Hamilton is doubtful how well it will work.
“Even though they’ve got the long straights, there’s not really a lot of places to overtake, because the grip is so low,” he said. “And the tow is not huge, a bit like Monza when you’re behind people, because you got the small wing, there’s not a lot of drag.
“So it’s kind of interesting. In qualifying I think position will be really important and then obviously degradation is going to be key. But I had a blast.”
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2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix
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Zann (@zann)
17th November 2023, 18:31
it’s strange how Max and Lewis see it so differently isn’t it. Perhaps Lewis is taking in the whole experience with the lights and everything, while Max just treats it as a physical exercise, like his sim but with g?
XV
17th November 2023, 18:54
Complete speculation on my part, but Mercedes seem very eager to praise and defend racing at this American track, almost as if there is a directive from the higher-ups. It feels like marketing for the US car market, the praise too exaggerated.
MadMax (@madmax)
17th November 2023, 19:25
or RBR the exact opposite
some racing fan
17th November 2023, 19:33
You know- the way you are saying “American track” comes off as incredibly condescending, derisive and dismissive. If you take all the road tracks in North America most of them are still as good as they were 30 years ago- not the case with a lot of European tracks. The Nordschleife, Spa, Le Mans, Monza, Mugello, Zandvoort and the well-known circuits in England are still good, but all the others are either not challenging or not as challenging as they used to be.
XV
17th November 2023, 20:09
When I say “American track”, I mean “a track located in the United States”. It is not being used as a way to describe the quality of the track, but to imply how a team linked to a car manufacturer is promoting itself in a country associated with a rather large car market.
pcxmac (@pcxmac)
18th November 2023, 10:15
as someone who has driven in France/Alps and in the US, I can tell you that 9 times out of 10, the european driver is going to be better, and the terrain/roads required to navigate europe are far more difficult than the open plains of the US. There are better tracks in europe because of the population density, history, and terrain. There are some nice sites in the US, but really, they pale in comparison to the great geological mountain ranges like the Alps. I also happen to think Europe, while being led by a lot of nonsense at the moment, has it’s priorities in much better order, having been in France for a few months, and seen the culture/etc.. Its very obvious when you compare the states and countries like France.
There are some good tracks in the US, but like Laguna, they too are hard to come by, in great condition.
Zann (@zann)
17th November 2023, 20:49
yes that might be part of it at least mightn’t it. Mercedes and all the corporates and sponsors are there to build their brands and make money out of racing, so being loyal involves being positive about it all. And there might be more enjoyable tracks to drive, but that doesn’t mean this can’t be enjoyable, if they’re starting with a positive attitude. And Lewis does have a view beyond just the driving, so it could be a mindset thing
G
18th November 2023, 8:14
It’s the current world we live in unfortunately. There is always a brand to promote and sell for corporate greed. I think it is refreshing to see drivers like Max and Kimi before him who didn’t tow the corporate line and just say it how it is.
When I started to watch F1 and followed McLaren, it really bugged me when the team started making the drivers wear the bright white upper half of a racing suit with sponsors all facing forward and the sponsored watch showing.
BLS (@brightlampshade)
17th November 2023, 18:33
In totally unrelated news, Hamilton has been granted extra access to help film “his” F1 film.
I do wonder what they’ve all be promised or threatened with in order to tow the line this weekend. Glad at least Verstappen is having none of it.
Jonathan Parkin
17th November 2023, 18:51
Don’t worry, despite the issues in FP1 and FP2 tomorrow will be another day in Paradise – literally in this case!
Jere (@jerejj)
17th November 2023, 18:34
While the Strip section is nearly 2 km, the low-ish drag rear-wing configuration indeed has that unfortunate side effect of minimized DRS effect from reduced natural drag, so having the activation zone begin at T13 would’ve been a better choice.
Hopefully, next season, especially as following should be harder than this season.
SadF1fan
17th November 2023, 18:49
No surprise that in a showboating city on a showboating track, someone with the interests of Hamilton had a lot of fun.
It’s all about show and Hamilton is a show man, from the tatoos and piercings to his musical career aspirations and his designer clothes, this is the type of world Hamilton wants to be a part of.
SteveR (@stever)
18th November 2023, 3:46
I’m think you’re right. Certainly Hamilton is right to pursue his dreams and they seem to include Hollywood.
Tiaki Porangi
18th November 2023, 6:17
F1 is literally show business.
G
18th November 2023, 8:00
Some drivers hate being paraded like a clown for ‘the show’ and just want to race. Others will happily dress like one and jump through hoops.
I was was actually surprised at Alonso making positive comments about Vegas as I had him in the purist racer bracket too although it could be the twilight of his career making him soak up every experience he has left.
Asd
17th November 2023, 19:45
“[…] because you got the small wing, there’s not a lot of drag.”
Actually, there’s not a lot of drag because of how aerodynamically efficient F1 cars are. That’s the underlying problem.
A racing series where slipstreaming has been eliminated is simply a disaster.
SteveR (@stever)
18th November 2023, 3:54
F1 cars are not aerodynamically efficient, with their exposed wheels they have drag coefficients of about 0.8 while WEC cars are at about 0.6.
GT Racer (@gt-racer)
17th November 2023, 19:53
Most of the drivers apparently think it’s a really boring circuit to drive that doesn’t provide that much of a challenge.
Opinions of the racing prospects is a bit more mixed although even those who are more optimistic about overtaking possibilities are of the view that track conditions off line, The corners leading onto the best opportunities and the lower drag will make it much harder than hoped.
Increasing the length of the DRS zone is something several drivers pushed for as the view among drivers has tended to be that easy overtakes with DRS are better than it been too difficult resulting in fewer total overtakes.
Tire warmup and overall grip was better than expected as was degredation levels. Especially once the track rubbered in a bit although off line was apparently really bad in terms of grip levels all day and isn’t expected to get any better.
The left side of the grid was said to be really bad when they did practice starts and the thinking is anyone starting on that side is probably going backwards at the start.
mrfill (@mrfill)
17th November 2023, 20:42
It seems to be like a mix of Singapore, Sochi and Valencia.
Zann (@zann)
17th November 2023, 20:56
you can imagine that after doing 200mph then a corner at 40mph is going to seem a bit tame! But i thought the biggest issue today was the camera coverage
GT Racer (@gt-racer)
17th November 2023, 21:59
@zann They are more limited than usual in terms of where cameras can be placed.
They are also under instruction to show the Las Vegas scenery as often as possible so expect a lot more of the higher/wider shots showing the various landmarks.
DaveW (@dmw)
17th November 2023, 20:42
The track is being billed in advertising as having the second longest straight on the calendar. It’s an end in itself. The promotion is that that we will have a superlative level of terminal velocity. It’s a handy selling point. The irony is that a very long straight just has the cars at terminal velocity for a long time which is not very interesting for drivers or viewers. If you go to a race the braking and high speed cornering is much more visually stunning than the top speed.
Spencer (@spencer)
17th November 2023, 20:46
Hamilton is generally, regardless of circumstance, is a better ambassador for the sport than Max. Despite is his talents Max comes off as entitled spoiled, seemingly amplified whenever there is a race in the USA. The act for American fans is frankly getting old. Sit out the race if you don’t want to be there. The championships are already sorted.
Dex
17th November 2023, 20:58
That only depends on if you’re buying what he’s trying to sell. I’m not. I don’t have much in common with Verstappen, and we’re different characters, but I respect his honesty. What you consider the “right things to say” I consider PR nonsense that most people see through these days. You talk like Verstappen is obliged to like and praise the event. He isn’t. And he’s got right to be there and race as much as anyone else. Seems he’s the only one with some integrity left amongst the drivers and team representatives, except if everyone else things exactly the same things and they are all loooooving it. Right…
sethje (@seth-space)
17th November 2023, 20:59
Theres nothhing “entitled spoiled” in Max. He just is not like the PR puppy like lewis is.
Max speaks his mind and that is not always the political correct terminology.
Nice to have some character in F1.. we need more of that.
Spencer (@spencer)
17th November 2023, 21:07
I am not a Hamilton fan but if I were hiring an employee to represent my business, Hamilton over Max is an easy choice. Max’s “honesty” does nothing for my enjoyment of the sport. As he is not obligated to like and praise the event, I am not obligated to share his viewpoints. In a world of constant complaining, his approach is yet another voice in the cacophony of malcontents. To each their own.
BamBoomBots
17th November 2023, 22:10
Fortunately for Max he has the ability to nullify any complaints about his character or PR with his performance on track.
In the end the win is what counts. And he knows that.
FlyingLap (@flyinglapp)
17th November 2023, 22:37
As if Max could do that in any car other than a Red Bull.
SteveR (@stever)
18th November 2023, 4:02
Really? How has Perez been doing? Max has really matured in the last two years and has become an awesome driver. Like or dislike his persona, he’s getting the deal done and is driving like a champion; no mistakes and winning from other than pole. Yeah, he’s got a great car, but he’s also using that car extremely well.
Sam
17th November 2023, 22:37
Max does come across as entitled spoiled when racing but he is also the main voice in F1 speaking out against the changes I see as ruining F1.
Oxnard (@montalvo)
18th November 2023, 2:53
I remember Lewis being praised for years for his “cash is king” comment. (his fans like to quote it a lot, even today). Yet now that he’s acting as the ultimate shill for ‘cash’, his fans praise him again. Make up your mind already..
This track may be the very worst track since Ceasar’s Palace GP in 1982. Besides the first few corners it is all full throttle and very slow corners.
S
18th November 2023, 6:05
But is that good or bad? You say bad, but – exchange “first few corners” with “last few corners” and you’ve got the exact description of every iteration of Hockenheim between 1980 and 2002, which people seem to have a deep love for…
Interesting…
RR
17th November 2023, 21:23
Lewis’s career as a major movie mogul needs his full time attention now, and henceforth, or he will be letting himself down.
MadMax (@madmax)
18th November 2023, 7:57
Lewis and most drivers speak positive about the track. Maybe its not the greatest track, but its of utter importance for F1 in US.
Funny that especially Max, who got his first WDC gifted for the show, is the loudest detractor. One would expect a bit more farsight from one, who should also be an ambassador of F1.