Hit the thumbs if the rain/sleet is hammering down where you live. Las Vegas is practically barmy compared to the UK at the moment.

The softs are on for George Russell and another decent lap sees the 26-year-old go straight to the best seat in the house. The Mercedes has pulled out 0.461 seconds on the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc, whose time was set on the mediums.

Here comes Lewis Hamilton...

A set of soft tyres have been bolted on to Franco Colapinto's Williams, but the Argentine driver is finding it tricky to wrangle in the car as he goes for his first lap on the C5 rubber.

Colapinto is another driver we'll be saying goodbye to, unless something drastic happens elsewhere. He hasn't moved that far up the leaderboard, settling for 11th place with a time in the 1:36s.

Charles Leclerc has been walking around the Vegas paddock in special trainers dedicated to his dog, Leo. I don't think the little fella is here, but he has definitely been the breakout star of 2024.

His owner is on a set of medium tyres and is top of the timesheets with a 1:34.478 and is leading the Mercedes of George Russell by 0.181 seconds. Ferrari team-mate, coming to the end of his stay with the Italian team before switching to Williams, is third-fastest.

Harry Benjamin
BBC F1 Commentator

It's an assault on the senses just being here. I would never want to sound like anybody is complaining because it's a privilege to watch Formula 1 cars going around Las Vegas but the times do make it incredibly tough.

Fernando Alonso is on the Aston Martin radio to say he thinks the team needs to change the set-up of the car, adding "more bouncing". You may have seen the footage of the Spaniard climbing out of his car in agony after the Sao Paulo Grand Prix. The abrasive streets of Sin City are maybe not the best remedy for the 43-year-old's delicate back.

Jack: Cold? It's 1C with a real feel of -2C in Somerset this morning

Alice Powell
British racing driver on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

It's a cool track, I would have loved to have driven on it. You don't get this anywhere else, going down the iconic Las Vegas Strip. The track map is like an upside down pig!

Groans from the radio of Max Verstappen as his Red Bull slips and slides due to low grip being offered up by the Las Vegas circuit.

George Russell and Lando Norris have climbed above Lewis Hamilton on the timesheets - the Mercedes driver quicker than the McLaren by 0.427 seconds.

Plenty of drivers are locking up and taking to the escape road in the early parts of this second session, Hamilton being one of them in his Mercedes.

The next driver to highlight a problem with his race helmet is Sergio Perez, who signals the same concerns with cold air coming through as George Russell.

Lewis Hamilton, meanwhile, is on the limit in his Mercedes and crosses the line to go top once again. The seven-time world champion's time is a 1:35.805 on the mediums, with Nico Hulkenberg in the Haas in second.

Andrew, please don't jinx this session.

Cars have headed out with the track temperature a shivering 13 degrees. Just four drivers are still in the pits; the rest of the field are taking the mediums out for a spin.

George Russell has multiple garments on as a modern F1 driver but still he is feeling the cooler conditions, flagging to his pit wall he has an issue with his helmet and cold air is blowing on his face.

Andrew Benson
BBC F1 correspondent

I've just been told that about an hour ago, they were welding a manhole cover down. Let's hope we don't have another night like last time in Las Vegas.

Brrrr. It's cold in the desert. Wrap up everyone.

BBC Sounds

Good evening to the team in Las Vegas.

Harry Benjamin, Alice Powell and Andrew Benson are in position, so hit the 'listen live' tab at the top of this page to tune in, or ask BBC Sounds to play Las Vegas Grand prix practice two via most smart speakers.

Image source, Getty Images

Max Verstappen is closing in on a fourth straight drivers' title and his first chance to take the crown is here in Las Vegas.

If the Dutchman finishes higher than Lando Norris on Sunday, he's champion. Simple as that.

He can even take the trophy if he finishes third and takes the extra point for fastest lap and Norris is second. Same goes if he is fourth on the day with the fastest lap and the McLaren driver ends his race on the podium in third.

For Norris, he needs to outscore Verstappen by three points in Vegas for the title fight to roll on to Qatar next weekend.

Image source, Getty Images

The line-up for the 2025 season is almost complete (just RB to go) and sadly, Valtteri Bottas will not be among the drivers taking part in next year's racing. The Finn has been let go by Sauber, along with current team-mate Zhou Guanyu, in favour of Brazilian Gabriel Bortoleto, who is leading this year's Formula 2 championship.

With only a few races left, the last thing Bottas would've wanted is a grid penalty. He'll be moving five places down the order on Sunday from his Saturday qualifying position after the team exceeded the limit of power unit components by introducing a new energy store.

Image source, F1

It was a promising opening hour for Mercedes, with both drivers leading the field on the soft tyres.

Lewis Hamilton was 0.396 seconds faster than his team-mate George Russell, slipping in with a quick time late on to top the timesheets.

Lando Norris, who is 62 points behind championship leader Max Verstappen coming into this Las Vegas Grand Prix, finished in third spot, while the Dutchman was down in fifth after complaining about a steering wheel connection issue.

Charles Leclerc, in what is expected to be a strong Ferrari this weekend, was fourth fastest.

Image source, Getty Images

I say welcome back, but the chances are this is your first time joining us today, given it's only 05:45 in the morning in the UK.

First practice was largely uneventful in Las Vegas. Apart from a few lock-ups and the difficulties with low grip, everyone came through unscathed.

Second practice goes green at 06:00 GMT.

Harry Benjamin, Alice Powell and Andrew Benson will be with is shortly and you can tune in on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, BBC Sounds, at the top of this page using the 'listen live' tab and via most smart speakers.

As you can see from the picture of Pierre Gasly after the session, it's a tad chilly in Sin City.

Andrew Benson
BBC F1 correspondent in Las vegas

Image source, Getty Images

Lewis Hamilton led George Russell to a Mercedes one-two in first practice at the Las Vegas Grand Prix.

Hamilton headed Russell by 0.396 after they traded fastest times at the end of the session, having set the pace throughout the hour.

McLaren’s Lando Norris, still technically in the title fight, was third fastest, while championship leader Max Verstappen’s Red Bull was fifth behind Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.

Verstappen heads Norris by 62 points with three races remaining and will clinch his fourth title as long as he is not out-scored by Norris by more than two points.

Read the full report here

If you're working a night shift, you're almost there!

If you got up especially to follow along with first practice, go back to bed!

A cold and dusty start to the Las Vegas weekend for drivers but Mercedes will be satisfied with a one-two in that session.

Time for us to park up and find a motel to grab a break. Get yourselves back here at 05:45 GMT for second practice.

See you shortly!

11. Kevin Magnussen (Haas)

12. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)

13. Alex Albon (Williams)

14. Esteban Ocon (Alpine)

15. Nico Hulkenberg (Haas)

16. Valtteri Bottas (Sauber)

17. Franco Colapinto (Williams)

18. Zhou Guanyu (Sauber)

19. Yuki Tsunoda (RB)

20. Liam Lawson (RB)