Andrew Benson
BBC F1 correspondent in Las Vegas

Image source, Getty Images

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton headed both Friday practice sessions at the Las Vegas Grand Prix.

The seven-time champion led team-mate George Russell in the first session and McLaren’s Lando Norris in the second.

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who can clinch his fourth world title this weekend, had a difficult day and ended up 17th fastest.

The Dutchman will win the title as long as he does not lose more than two points to Norris in the race on Saturday (06:00 GMT Sunday).

Hamilton was 0.011 seconds quicker than Norris in the second session, and 0.396secs clear of Russell in third.

Read the full report here

Get a pot of coffee on the go, Williams. There's work to do on Alex Albon's car tonight.

This has been a solid day for Mercedes with Lewis Hamilton topping both practice sessions and George Russell also in the top three. Lando Norris split the two Silver Arrows in that second hour - will it be an all-Brit scrap for pole position tomorrow?

Thanks for joining us this morning, folks. I'd like to say the times on Saturday are more favourable, but they're not. Set your alarms very early for a 02:15 GMT start.

See you tomorrow for third practice and qualifying!

Rosanna and the team discuss the championship permutations and debate whether Max Verstappen will win his fourth title in Vegas. We hear from Verstappen and his title rival Lando Norris. And they ask what is going on at the FIA after race director Niels Wittich was removed from his role.

11. Valtteri Bottas (Sauber)

12. Esteban Ocon (Alpine)

13. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)

14. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)

15. Liam Lawson (RB)

16. Zhou Guanyu (Sauber)

17. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)

18. Franco Colapinto (Williams)

19. Sergio Perez (Red Bull)

20. Alex Albon (Williams)

1. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) - 1:33.825

2. Lando Norris (McLaren) +0.011

3. George Russell (Mercedes) +0.190

4. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) +0.280

5. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) +0.488

6. Pierre Gasly (Alpine) +0.826

7. Kevin Magnussen (Haas) +0.861

8. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) +0.973

9. Nico Hulkenberg (Haas) +0.993

10. Yuki Tsunoda (RB) +1.172

Thursday night in Las Vegas is almost done for teams and drivers - go and get a warm after this.

Lewis Hamilton needs a half-spin to straighten up his Mercedes, while Oscar Piastri is a whisker away from the Sin City walls. Actually, the pink Alpine of Pierre Gasly also locks up after a close call.

Time gentlemen, please.

Image source, Getty Images

Max Verstappen could become a four-time world champion this weekend.

The Red Bull driver has sat down with BBC F1 correspondent Andrew Benson for an exclusive interview, chatting about his racing style, his future in the sport, the relationship between team boss Christian Horner and his dad, Jos.

"Of course the championship is in the back of my mind, naturally," says Verstappen. "But I will always try to get the best result out of it first and then see what’s possible."

Have a read of the interview here

Image source, Reuters

This 6.201km circuit feels more like a movie set than a Formula 1 race track.

The start line and run from Turn One to Turn Four have been developed into a permanent race area, which include a pit building, garages and team areas.

From there, the track leads on to the straight down Koval Lane, followed by turns around the Sphere - the eye-catching immersive music and entertainment arena.

Down Sands Avenue, drivers will pass the Venetian Resort before they turn into the star of the show - the Las Vegas Strip, which is home to Harrah's, The Mirage, Caesars Palace, Paris Las Vegas and Bellagio.

Another couple of turns lead to the final straight on East Harmon Avenue.

And we'll be doing all that for 50 laps on Sunday.

The focus is turning now to some long run action on the medium compound, but it doesn't look like we'll be seeing Alex Albon again this session.

Williams have provided an update: "The team attempted to repair Alex’s fuel system and participate in the remainder of FP2, however the issue has persisted which unfortunately forced the car to stop on track. We will investigate further after the session."

Formula 1 needs to be employ stewards on a full-time basis in order to simplify the rules of the sport, says McLaren CEO Zak Brown.

Brown thinks current rules are "overly regulated" and "overly complicated".

He has suggested paying stewards, who are currently unpaid volunteers, and giving them access to more technology in order to make the right calls on high-profile incidents.

"I think we need full-time stewards," Brown told BBC Sport. "I don't think the way we're set up as a sport, we are set up for success."

Read the full story here.

Andrew Benson
BBC F1 correspondent

It is very early days but it looks to me that Red Bull are having one of those difficult weekends that we became familiar with in the middle of the season. Both Perez and Verstappen look like they are really struggling with grip.

Cars are back out on track after that short delay to recover Alex Albon's stricken Williams. The likes of George Russell and Pierre Gasly have swapped the softs for the mediums for the final 15 minutes of this second practice session.

1. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) - 1:33.825

2. Lando Norris (McLaren) +0.011

3. George Russell (Mercedes) +0.190

4. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) +0.280

5. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) +0.488

Alice Powell
British racing driver on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

We are finding that drivers are able to do a push lap, a cool and then a push. Due to these cold temperatures, it is not sucking the life out of the soft tyre.

Hamilton back to the toppublished at 06:40 Greenwich Mean Time 22 November

06:40 GMT 22 November

The marshals are on the scene at a rapid pace to recover Alex Albon and his car.

Lewis Hamilton now finds himself at the top of the timesheets once again with a time 0.011 seconds faster than the McLaren of Lando Norris.

Albon stops on trackpublished at 06:38 Greenwich Mean Time 22 November

06:38 GMT 22 November

The red flag is out, but what is it for?

It's for Alex Albon, who has come to a stop on track. The Williams driver has only just come back out of the pits following a fuel systems issue.

Lando Norris said in the news conference for Las Vegas that the pressure is sort of off him this weekend, given the huge task he faces of overhauling championship leader Max Verstappen.

A win here would be a boost for the McLaren driver following a disappointing main race in Brazil. He takes the softs around for a hot lap and ends his attempt top of the pile. He's 0.179 seconds quicker than George Russell.

Oscar Piastri jumps to fifth after his flyer on the soft compound, while Esteban Ocon, no doubt still on a high from his second-placed finish at Interlagos last time out, going ninth-fastest.

His fellow podium placer and Alpine team-mate Pierre Gasly, meanwhile, is on the radio to vent about the traffic. Looks like a McLaren was in the way, with the Frenchman asking if they are suffering from jet lag?!

The lap is not quite good enough to bump George Russell off his perch, but no doubt the Mercedes is looking strong so far this weekend. Lewis Hamilton is 0.214 seconds off his team-mate, with the two Ferraris heading out on the softs now.

Image source, Reuters