Ferrari team principal Frédéric Vasseur has warned that an easily overlooked detail – the revised start time for the Las Vegas Grand Prix – could significantly reshape the competitive landscape of the 50-lap race.
Formula 1 is preparing for its third consecutive visit to Nevada, once again taking on the illuminated backdrop of the Las Vegas Strip. However, this year’s event comes with one subtle but potentially decisive alteration: both qualifying and the grand prix will begin two hours earlier than in 2023. The shift from 22:00 to 20:00 local time may sound minor, but Vasseur suggested that it could play an important role in how teams manage tyres, temperatures and overall race strategy.
How last year’s cold night race reshuffled the competitive order
Last season’s Las Vegas Grand Prix was dominated by Mercedes. The Silver Arrows thrived in the unusually cold desert conditions, with a car that was able to generate tyre temperature far more effectively than the rest of the field. That advantage allowed George Russell and Lewis Hamilton to secure a commanding one-two finish, even with Hamilton starting deep in the pack from tenth place.
Ferrari emerged as the second-strongest force under the lights, with Carlos Sainz completing the podium and Charles Leclerc finishing a close fourth. Max Verstappen struggled more than expected, and both McLaren drivers found themselves chasing the red cars rather than fighting for the top spots.
Why the 2025 schedule change could alter Ferrari’s prospects
Fred Vasseur has now suggested that the move to an earlier start time could subtly shift the balance of performance. With Las Vegas already considered an outlier on the F1 calendar due to its cool nighttime temperatures, even a small difference in ambient conditions has the potential to influence tyre warm-up, long-run degradation and overall strategy.
The French team boss told the media that last year’s late-running schedule created extreme conditions for tyre management, and that the ability to reach and maintain the ideal operating window was central to Mercedes’ pace advantage. He pointed out that with the race now beginning earlier in the evening, the temperature profile may change enough to modify how teams approach setup and tyre usage.
Although initial weather forecasts are predicting an unusually sharp cold front sweeping into Las Vegas during the race weekend – possibly making conditions even colder than in 2023 – Fred Vasseur hinted that even with the chilly outlook, the shift in timing could still deliver a different competitive picture. Warmer temperatures would theoretically help teams like Ferrari, while colder track temperatures tend to level the field but complicate tyre warm-up.
Ferrari seeking redemption after a painful São Paulo weekend
The pressure on Ferrari to deliver a strong performance is growing. The team arrives in Nevada after a deeply disappointing Brazilian Grand Prix, where strategic missteps and tyre issues contributed to a poor showing. The result has dropped Ferrari to fourth place in the increasingly tense fight for second in the constructors’ championship.
Mercedes currently holds the runner-up position, leading Red Bull by 32 points and Ferrari by a further four. With only a handful of races remaining, the Las Vegas round could prove pivotal in reshaping the standings heading into the final stretch of the season.
Whether the earlier start time becomes an advantage or another complication remains to be seen, but Ferrari are fully aware that every marginal gain could prove critical in the high-stakes environment of the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
Leave a Reply