Watch onboard: Lewis Hamilton charges through the pack with stunning opening lap in Las Vegas. Watch Lewis Hamilton’s stunning recovery from the back of the grid in Las Vegas.

Hamilton charges through the pack with stunning opening lap in Las Vegas

The Las Vegas Grand Prix delivered immediate drama, and Lewis Hamilton wasted no time turning it into an opportunity. Starting from the very back of the grid, the Ferrari driver produced a remarkable opening sequence that saw him slice through the midfield in just a handful of corners.

By the time the race reached lap 3 out of 50, Lewis Hamilton had already climbed from 19th place to a strong 12th position. His rapid progress came just before the appearance of the Virtual Safety Car, which briefly neutralized the action and locked in the early gains he had made.

The chaotic first corner played a key role in reshaping the order. Gabriel Bortoleto and Lance Stroll tangled at Turn 1, triggering a chain reaction that sent the Sauber into the Aston Martin. Stroll’s car sustained significant damage, forcing him to retire on the spot. Hamilton, meanwhile, navigated the carnage with precision, picking off rivals who were caught out by the incident.

What stood out most was the confidence in Hamilton’s driving. His onboard footage highlighted how aggressively—but cleanly—he positioned the Ferrari through the opening sequence. He consistently chose bold outside lines, anticipating where space would open up and committing early. It was the kind of calculated risk-taking that has defined many of his trademark comeback drives.

While the race was still in its early stages, Lewis Hamilton’s immediate surge through the field set the tone for his recovery. Ferrari had placed emphasis on race pace heading into the weekend, and these early laps suggested that the team’s setup decisions were well-founded. With tyre temperatures coming in quickly and the car responding sharply, the Briton appeared poised to fight for points despite the difficult starting position.

As the race settled after the VSC period, the question shifted to strategy: could Lewis Hamilton continue his ascent once the field resumed full-speed racing, or would he meet resistance deeper in the midfield? Regardless of what followed, his opening laps were a reminder of why he remains one of the strongest and most adaptable drivers on the grid.

For fans watching the replay or riding onboard, Lewis Hamilton’s first-lap performance offered the perfect mix of chaos, opportunism and pure driving instinct—an early highlight of the Las Vegas weekend.