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Oliver Bearman brands "sketchy" Las Vegas GP circuit "least enjoyable street track"

Haas Formula 1 rookie driver Oliver Bearman described the Las Vegas Grand Prix circuit as "sketchy" and "the least enjoyable street track I've driven" after the first two practice sessions.

The Briton was shocked by the lack of grip on the track after he finished FP1 in 16th and FP2 in 17th.

"We knew, big track evo on a circuit like this, honestly those first few laps I did in FP1, of course it's a new track for me, I was shocked by how low the grip was," he said to Sky Sports F1.

"It's sketchy out there, I don't even know how to describe the low level of grip that we experienced, but in turn that means that the evo is incredibly high.

"So even in that session we were quite early to get onto the soft tyre, I didn't manage to do a lap on the soft, but that meant that when I boxed I was in a good position and by the time I went to go out again I suddenly was five or six tenths further away from the front.

"It was a tricky session with the rain, with the traffic and with interruptions but I think we learnt a lot. The track is new for me so I'm also finding my rhythm around here so I'm excited for tomorrow."

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team (Photo by: Simon Galloway / LAT Images via Getty Images)

When asked how the Las Vegas circuit compared to other street circuits such as Jeddah and Baku, Bearman added: "This is the least enjoyable street track I've driven. Normally they're really, really fun and great. This one is really, really low grip, which is not a great combination when you have the walls very close.

"It's incredibly high speed, which is dangerous. I mean the track itself is cool to be racing down the Strip in Las Vegas, but aside from that there's not much good stuff."

The second practice session was disrupted due to a suspected loose manhole cover, with the drivers losing approximately 20 minutes of running time.

Photos from Las Vegas GP - Free Practice 

Lando Norris, McLaren

Las Vegas GP - Thursday, in photos

An Elvis Presley impersonator holds up an Ayrton Senna inspired helmet

Las Vegas GP - Thursday, in photos

Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team

Las Vegas GP - Thursday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Las Vegas GP - Thursday, in photos

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

Las Vegas GP - Thursday, in photos

Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing

Las Vegas GP - Thursday, in photos

George Russell, Mercedes

Las Vegas GP - Thursday, in photos

Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari

Las Vegas GP - Thursday, in photos

Alexandra Saint Mleux

Las Vegas GP - Thursday, in photos

George Russell, Mercedes

Las Vegas GP - Thursday, in photos

Pierre Gasly, Alpine

Las Vegas GP - Thursday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren

Las Vegas GP - Thursday, in photos

Laurent Mekies, Red Bull Racing Team Principal

Las Vegas GP - Thursday, in photos

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Las Vegas GP - Thursday, in photos

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

Las Vegas GP - Thursday, in photos

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Las Vegas GP - Thursday, in photos

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team

Las Vegas GP - Thursday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren

Las Vegas GP - Thursday, in photos

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Las Vegas GP - Thursday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Las Vegas GP - Thursday, in photos

Gene Haas, Founder and Chairman of Haas F1 Team

Las Vegas GP - Thursday, in photos

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

Las Vegas GP - Thursday, in photos

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing

Las Vegas GP - Thursday, in photos

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

Las Vegas GP - Thursday, in photos

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Las Vegas GP - Thursday, in photos

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team

Las Vegas GP - Thursday, in photos

Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing

Las Vegas GP - Thursday, in photos

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Las Vegas GP - Thursday, in photos

Pierre Gasly, Alpine

Las Vegas GP - Thursday, in photos

Franco Colapinto, Alpine

Las Vegas GP - Thursday, in photos

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Las Vegas GP - Thursday, in photos

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Las Vegas GP - Thursday, in photos

Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team

Las Vegas GP - Thursday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren

Las Vegas GP - Thursday, in photos

Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing

Las Vegas GP - Thursday, in photos

Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team

Las Vegas GP - Thursday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Las Vegas GP - Thursday, in photos

Pierre Gasly, Alpine

Las Vegas GP - Thursday, in photos

Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber

Las Vegas GP - Thursday, in photos

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing

Las Vegas GP - Thursday, in photos

Pierre Gasly, Alpine, Franco Colapinto, Alpine

Las Vegas GP - Thursday, in photos

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Las Vegas GP - Thursday, in photos

Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing

Las Vegas GP - Thursday, in photos

Alexander Albon, Williams

Las Vegas GP - Thursday, in photos

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Helmut Marko, Red Bull Racing

Las Vegas GP - Thursday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Las Vegas GP - Thursday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren

Las Vegas GP - Thursday, in photos

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Las Vegas GP - Thursday, in photos

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Las Vegas GP - Thursday, in photos

Alexander Albon, Williams

Las Vegas GP - Thursday, in photos

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Las Vegas GP - Thursday, in photos

Pierre Gasly, Alpine, Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing

Las Vegas GP - Thursday, in photos

Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team

Las Vegas GP - Thursday, in photos

Pierre Gasly, Alpine

Las Vegas GP - Thursday, in photos

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Las Vegas GP - Thursday, in photos

Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team

Las Vegas GP - Thursday, in photos

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team

Las Vegas GP - Thursday, in photos

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Las Vegas GP - Thursday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Las Vegas GP - Thursday, in photos

A manhole cover comes loose after

Las Vegas GP - Thursday, in photos

Track officials inspect a manhole cover

Las Vegas GP - Thursday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Las Vegas GP - Thursday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Las Vegas GP - Thursday, in photos

Formula 1
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