Red Bull struggling again as Mercedes step up in Las Vegas
It was Mercedes’ George Russell putting in a stunning final lap around the streets of Las Vegas to take a fourth-career pole position and the third of the ongoing season. There was a late tussle between Mercedes and Ferrari which Russell came out on top to lock in the pole at the Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024.
Here’s a quick recap of the qualifying session at the Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024.
Q1 – Sergio Pérez disappoints once again
Reigning world champion Max Verstappen’s 1:33.29s held the fastest time of the session for a while with Russell 0.064s behind but it was Verstappen’s teammate, Sergio Pérez, who was struggling once again. While Hamilton and then Russell went to the top of the table as the chequered flag fell.
Pérez wasn’t able to secure a place in the top 15 as Yuki Tsunoda knocked the Mexican out of Q1 and it along with Pérez, Fernando Alonso, Alex Albon, Valtteri Bottas and Lance Stroll failed to make it out of Q1 as well.
Eliminated in Q1
Sergio Pérez
Fernando Alonso
Alexander Albon
Valtteri Bottas
Lance Stroll
Q2 – Williams have more damage
Mercedes was once again back at the top of the field in Q2 after topping the Q1 session as it was Hamilton’s 1:32.5s which was the fastest of the session with Russell two-tenths behind him. Leclerc and Piastri were further two-tenths behind Russell. As the chequered flag fell, a crucial lap from Nico Hülkenberg got him into the top 10 and before his teammate could manage to do the same, the rookie Williams driver, Franco Colapinto had a huge crash at Turn 16 right at the end which brought out the Red Flag and effectively ended the session.
Colapinto’s crash knocked him out and along with him Esteban Ocon, Kevin Magnussen, Zhou and Liam Lawson failed to make the top 10 either.
Eliminated in Q2
Esteban Ocon
Kevin Magnussen
Zhou Guanyu
Franco Colapinto
Liam Lawson
Q3 – Russell outshines the Ferraris
The McLarens started the final qualifying session with style as Norris led Piastri at the top before Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari dislodged both with a 1:33.02s. It was George Russell though, with his 1:32.81s, taking provisional pole with Verstappen only managing P3 in his first run. The final runs saw Charles Leclerc take provisional pole first with a 1:32.78s thanks to a strong final sector, before he was pipped by his teammate, Carlos Sainz, who went 1:32.41s. Alpine’s Pierre Gasly stunned the McLarens and Red Bulls to move up to P2 before George Russell’s sublime final lap saw him take pole position with a 1:32.31s.
Sainz ended up on the front row with Gasly and Leclerc locking out the second row ahead of the two championship contenders, Verstappen and Norris in the third row.
Starting Grid for the Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024 (prior to any penalties)
1. George Russell
2. Carlos Sainz
3. Pierre Gasly
4. Charles Leclerc
5. Max Verstappen
6. Lando Norris
7. Yuki Tsunoda
8. Oscar Piastri
9. Nico Hülkenberg
10. Lewis Hamilton
11. Esteban Ocon
12. Kevin Magnussen
13. Zhou Guanyu
14. Franco Colapinto
15. Liam Lawson
16. Sergio Pérez
17. Fernando Alonso
18. Alexander Albon
19. Valtteri Bottas
20. Lance Stroll
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