George Russell dominates Las Vegas GP Friday practice with late drama

The evening, however, concluded with a twist as a late crash by Alex Albon brought out the red flag, disrupting the final laps for Ferrari and Red Bull.

Russell's commanding performance saw him eclipse Oscar Piastri by four-tenths, making a statement ahead of the race weekend. The session began with McLaren leading the charge, but it was Russell who set the initial benchmark with a 1:43.6, signaling his intent.

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, determined to continue Thursday's momentum, swiftly climbed to the top with a 1:38.9, maintaining an edge over teammate Carlos Sainz. The Ferraris showcased their strategic prowess, practicing the tow with Sainz providing Leclerc a crucial slipstream.

Max Verstappen's delayed appearance heightened the suspense, eventually securing third place with a nail-biting encounter with the Turn 12 wall. Meanwhile, Russell, opting for a new set of soft tires, executed a flawless late push, reclaiming the lead from Oscar Piastri with a 1:34.5.

The session took a dramatic turn as the red flags flew with four minutes remaining due to Albon's crash. Despite Albon's misfortune, Russell's stellar performance, Piastri's impressive run, and Logan Sargeant's notable finish marked the end of Friday's practice, leaving fans eagerly anticipating the upcoming race.

As the Las Vegas Grand Prix unfolds, Russell's supremacy in Friday's practice sets the stage for an exhilarating weekend, with teams and drivers navigating the challenging circuit in pursuit of victory.

FP3 Times:

1 George Russell Mercedes 1:34.093
2 Oscar Piastri McLaren +0.398
3 Logan Sargeant Williams +0.552
4 Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing +0.560
5 Sergio Perez Red Bull Racing +0.613
6 Alexander Albon Williams +0.633
7 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin +0.695
8 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes +0.760
9 Valtteri Bottas Alfa Romeo +0.815
10 Kevin Magnussen Haas F1 Team +0.974
11 Lando Norris McLaren +0.996
12 Nico Hulkenberg Haas F1 Team +1.019
13 Lance Stroll Aston Martin +1.160
14 Esteban Ocon Alpine +1.204
15 Guanyu Zhou Alfa Romeo +1.788
16 Charles Leclerc Ferrari +1.815
17 Carlos Sainz Ferrari +1.846
18 Yuki Tsunoda AlphaTauri +1.994
19 Pierre Gasly Alpine +2.392
20 Daniel Ricciardo AlphaTauri +3.685