Round 22 of the 2024 FIA Formula 1 World Championship started with practice at the Las Vegas Strip Circuit on Thursday, as the teams prepared for Sunday’s 50-lap Las Vegas Grand Prix.

The FP1 under the lights in the early evening saw the field looking for grip with Formula 1, the first cars to take on the 6.201 kilometer long, 17-turn street circuit this weekend. MoneyGram Haas F1 Team drivers Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg sampled both the Pirelli P Zero Yellow medium and Red soft tires during the first 60-minute session. It was on the softer rubber that each driver recorded their best lap – Magnussen claiming P11 (1:36.811) with Hulkenberg in P15 (1:37.200).

FP2 later at night in Nevada meant cooler track conditions, with air temperatures hovering around 10 degrees Celsius (50 degrees Fahrenheit), while track temperatures averaged 12 degrees Celsius (53.6 degrees Fahrenheit). The pace of the VF-24s of Magnussen and Hulkenberg proved faster, with both cars comfortably in the top 10 in the second practice session. An early stint for each driver on the medium compound was followed by qualifying simulations on the soft tyres. Magnussen set a fast lap of 1:34.686, placing him in P7 on the timesheets. Hulkenberg’s best performance of 1:34.818 was good for P9. High-fuel stunts rounded out Thursday’s running program – Magnussen continued on his soft tires while Hulkenberg returned to his previous medium set.

The MoneyGram Haas F1 team completed a total of 92 laps during FP1 and FP2 on Thursday – Hulkenberg (48), Magnussen (44).

Nico Hulkenberg: “It was a good Thursday, without any hiccups, and I felt good in the car in FP1, which is invaluable on a track like this. We will try to put in some more performances, but I think we can fight to stay there. become the fifth fastest team again and fight for points on race day.”

Kevin Magnussen: “It looked good. Just like the last few races it was a strong start and the car looks good. It’s a strange track because the surface is super slippery and you slide around and scuff your tires, so the track is Every lap you’re evolving and you’re gaining seconds every time. It’s hard to be super confident because obviously a lot can change, but it’s a good place to build for tomorrow.”

Ayao Komatsu, team boss: “I think it was a decent Thursday; our pace is there or around there. It wasn’t perfect, but as far as practice days go, it was fine. The problem we have with the grain of the tires, I think the same for everyone, so we need to refine our management to achieve slightly better consistency at low fuel consumption. Again, there is some room for improvement, but it is a good starting point.”