Las Vegas turns on temperature. A cold desert night, a green surface and low-drag set-ups make getting tyres into their operating window the central problem, and drivers who can generate heat on an out-lap gain more than the stopwatch suggests. Expect graining, lock-ups and a track that evolves considerably through the weekend. Long straights make overtaking realistic, so qualifying is useful rather than decisive, and cars with low drag and strong power tend to punch above their season form. Walls are close and the safety-car risk is high, which puts a premium on strategic flexibility. With only a few runnings so far, be wary of drawing firm conclusions from a short history.