Mercedes continues to assert its dominance in the F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix as George Russell claimed a spectacular pole position, leading Carlos Sainz and Pierre Gasly under the bright lights of Las Vegas. The Las Vegas GP has proven to be a thrilling spectacle, with Russell showcasing his impressive pace by topping the final qualifying session and setting the stage for what promises to be a competitive race.
Red Bull’s Temporary Solution and Struggles in FP3
Red Bull faced challenges in FP3 after implementing a temporary solution with a unique rear wing design on the RB20. Despite the innovation, Sergio Pérez and Max Verstappen struggled with the setup. Verstappen posted a best time of 1:34.137, leaving him in 5th place overall. The session was cut short by a red flag caused by Lance Stroll, who had to stop after turn 12. With just one minute remaining, Russell took full advantage of the track time, posting an impressive 1:33.57. Behind him, Oscar Piastri, Carlos Sainz, Lando Norris, Max Verstappen, and Lewis Hamilton completed the top 6.
Mercedes Leads Qualifying Sessions
Mercedes continued its strong performance into qualifying, with Russell posting the 4th fastest time in Q1, trailing Hamilton. The Ferrari team started slow but picked up pace, with Charles Leclerc briefly leading the timesheets, only to be surpassed by McLaren’s Piastri and Norris. Russell eventually took the top spot with a time of 1:33.363, surpassing both Ferrari and McLaren with just 5 minutes remaining in the session.
Surprises and Eliminations in Q1 and Q2
There were some surprising eliminations in Q1, including Pérez, Fernando Alonso, Alex Albon, Valtteri Bottas, and Stroll. Russell continued to perform well in Q2 despite a modest start on used tires, with only a 0.001-second difference separating him and Piastri. A red flag incident saw Colapinto collide with the barriers at turn 16, leading to an early end to the session. Ocon, Magnussen, Zhou, Colapinto, and Lawson were eliminated in Q2.
Russell Claims Pole Position in Q3
The final Q3 session saw Russell dominate, setting a time of 1:32.811, ahead of Gasly and Verstappen. After improving his time to 1:32.312, Russell secured the pole position for the Las Vegas GP. Sainz finished second, just 0.098 seconds behind, while Gasly surprised many by securing 3rd. Leclerc, Verstappen, and Norris rounded out the top six, while Hamilton faced issues and was eliminated in 10th place.
Mercedes in a Strong Position for Victory
Based on their performances over the weekend, Mercedes appears poised to convert Russell’s pole position into a potential victory. However, the battle for the title remains tight between Verstappen and Norris, making the race a crucial moment in this thrilling F1 season.
Don’t miss the main race on November 24 at 13:00. Will Russell convert his pole position into victory? And how will the battle between Verstappen and Norris unfold? The Las Vegas Grand Prix promises to deliver more exciting moments as the season reaches its climax.
