The first day of Formula 1 free practice in Las Vegas offered encouraging signs for Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari, even if the results don’t tell the full story. The English driver finished FP1 in eleventh and FP2 in tenth, approximately half a second behind the fastest lap set by Lando Norris. However, both sessions were heavily affected by red flag interruptions, which limited the drivers’ ability to show the car’s true pace.
Lewis Hamilton affected by red flags
The two red flags deployed by the race direction to inspect and secure the track effectively prevented Lewis Hamilton from completing a competitive lap on the Soft tires. He was therefore forced to set his best time on the Medium tires. This detail is significant, considering that the SF-25 demonstrated very solid balance with the yellow-banded Mediums.
Lewis Hamilton didn’t hide this factor, sharing his first impressions: “I had a good FP1, even though I wasn’t able to put together a clean lap on the Softs, and the same happened in FP2.” The seven-time Formula 1 world champion admitted that he was unlucky with timing when he went out on track in the otherwise excellent SF-25.
Despite this, he expressed satisfaction with the work completed and the car’s feel, especially in the opening section of the track: “I felt strong in the first sector,” he added, noting that the car responded well in the more technical areas of the circuit. The improvement between the two sessions was clear, even without fully exploiting the higher-performance Soft tires.
Technical progress confirmed
From a technical perspective, Ferrari confirmed the progress already seen in FP1. The SF-25’s main challenge, the lack of rotation, was significantly reduced, allowing the drivers to hit the apex of corners more easily. Moreover, compared to the McLaren, the Ferrari showed better traction management on the Medium tires, delivering power to the ground more effectively.
Ferrari starts from a strong base in Las Vegas
Ferrari appears to have found a convincing balance on the Las Vegas Strip, a circuit that could allow the team to compete for top positions in this twenty-second weekend of the 2025 Formula 1 season. The car responded very well to variations in asphalt and temperature, which could be an important factor for qualifying. Everything needs to come together effectively to fully exploit the car.
Lewis Hamilton reiterated that despite the obstacles on track, the day was very useful and the collected data will be crucial for maximizing the SF-25’s performance: “In both free practice sessions, between yellow and red flags, we were blocked on several occasions. Of course, everyone is in the same boat,” the Stevenage-born driver explained. Pausing briefly, he added:
“Without a doubt, the most important thing today is that I learned a lot about how my car behaves,” concluded the forty-year-old Ferrari driver. He looks forward to the rest of the weekend in the “Sin City” with confidence, knowing that the SF-25’s potential has not yet been fully unlocked.
For this reason, he highlighted that the base of car number 44 on Thursday and Friday gave him very positive sensations, and that the team still has margin to refine the package and extract even more potential. An encouraging sign for the Scuderia Ferrari, ahead of what promises to be, as always, a very special weekend.
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