For the first time since 1982, Formula One returned to the streets of Las Vegas, Nevada, USA for the running of the Las Vegas Grand Prix (previously Caesar's Palace GP). The 6.201 km (3.853 mi) street circuit runs counterclockwise and features 17 corners and a 1.9 km (1.2 mi) straight. Formula One and Las Vegas have signed a 10-year agreement for the race, with the intent being for the race to continue into perpetuity.

The Las Vegas Grand Prix is unique in that the Grand Prix itself is run on a Saturday night, not the traditional Sunday afternoon running.

The Ferrari drivers were the undoubted front-runners on the first day of track action at the Las Vegas Strip Circuit.

Charles Leclerc topped the time sheets from both sessions: the FP1 time did not mean much as the session only lasted eight minutes, however his FP2 time of 1'35"265 was much more significant, just over half a second quicker than team-mate Carlos Sainz. T

Third fastest was Fernando Alonso (1'35"793) just 11 thousandths slower than his fellow countryman.

It was a very long day, with most of the personnel only leaving the paddock as dawn was breaking.

The first session was red flagged after eight minutes when a manhole cover lifted off the track surface, damaging the cars of Carlos Sainz and Esteban Ocon and then was stopped completely to allow for a thorough track inspection and, where necessary, repairs.

This meant the second session began at 2.30 am, a delay of two and a half hours, with running time extended by 30 minutes to make up for the lost track time. In addition, the FIA ruled that the teams' normal requirement to return two sets of tyres after FP1 as per the Sporting Regulations, could now be postponed until two hours after the end of FP2.

"It was definitely an unusual first day, with one session reduced to almost nothing and the next one extended by 50%, along with permission granted to use all the sets of tyres available to make up for the time lost in the first session," said Simone Berra - Ferrari Chief Engineer.

"This meant we were able to get some useful initial indications which are important for the rest of the weekend, starting with how the track is evolving," said Berra.

Red Bull's Sergio Perez (P4) and Alfa Romeo's Valtteri Bottas (P5) rounded out the top five in the second free practice session.

Pos	Driver		Team		Time		Gap

1	Leclerc		Ferrari		1:35.265	145.611 mph
2	Sainz		Ferrari		1:35.782	0.517
3	Alonso		Aston Martin	1:35.793	0.528
4	Perez		Red Bull	1:36.085	0.820
5	Bottas		Alfa Romeo	1:36.129	0.864
6	Verstappen	Red Bull	1:36.183	0.918
7	Hulkenberg	Haas		1:36.489	1.224
8	Stroll		Aston Martin	1:36.496	1.231
9	Hamilton	Mercedes	1:36.663	1.398
10	Albon		Williams	1:36.688	1.423
11	Norris		McLaren		1:36.864	1.599
12	Russell		Mercedes	1:36.890	1.625
13	Magnussen	Haas		1:36.917	1.652
14	Piastri		McLaren		1:36.987	1.722
15	Gasly		Alpine		1:37.134	1.869
16	Ocon		Alpine		1:37.241	1.976
17	Tsunoda		AlphaTauri	1:37.412	2.147
18	Zhou		Alfa Romeo	1:37.656	2.391
19	Ricciardo	AlphaTauri	1:37.680	2.415
20	Sargeant	Williams	1:38.140	2.875

(image provided by Alfa Romeo F1 Team KICK)