Several rookies got their first impressions of the Las Vegas Strip Circuit on Thursday, including Oliver Bearman. The Haas driver, who primarily competed in Formula 2 last year, got his first taste of the city’s streets during VT1 and VT2. Afterward, the young Brit didn’t mince words; while he usually enjoys the challenges of a street circuit, he was ‘shocked’ by his first experiences in Las Vegas.
On Thursday, Oliver Bearman clocked the sixteenth and seventeenth times in VT1 and VT2 respectively. He might have improved in the second practice session, had his fast laps not been hindered by interruptions. After the sessions, he was asked about his first impressions of Las Vegas. He explained that the lack of grip surprised him in a negative way. “Honestly, during those first few laps I drove in VT1, I was shocked by the lack of grip,” he responded to F1TV.
‘Not Much to Write Home About’
“Of course, this is my first time on the circuit,” he added, “but it’s really quite risky.” The limited grip was partly caused by a bit of rain. “I don’t even know how to describe the low grip,” Bearman continued. “At least it means that the track development is incredibly high. In that first session, we switched to the soft tire quite early. That put me in a good position when I came back in, but when I went back out on the track, I was suddenly five or six tenths behind the leaders. So yes, the track evolution is enormous.”
“It was a tough session with the rain, the traffic, and the interruptions, but I think we learned a lot,” Bearman continued optimistically. The Brit explained that he still needs to ‘find his rhythm’, but so far, he’s not very impressed with Las Vegas. “This is the least enjoyable street circuit I’ve ever driven on. Normally, they’re really fun and great. Here, there’s just very little grip, which is not a nice combination with the tight track. The high speeds make it even more dangerous. It’s cool to race on the Las Vegas Strip, but beyond that, it’s not much to write home about.”
