2024 Heineken Las Vegas Grand Prix Race Recap

On November 23, 2024By Littum

George Russell will start Saturday’s Las Vegas Grand Prix from pole position as Max Verstappen took another step towards securing a fourth world championship by disqualifying his only remaining title rival Lando Norris.

Mercedes’ Russell beat Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz to the fastest time by 0.098 seconds, with Pierre Gasly taking a surprising third on the grid for Alpine.

Gasly said afterwards: “It’s honestly unbelievable that we didn’t think we’d be able to get a top three in qualifying. It was an unbelievable lap, especially around this track when you’re flirting with the walls everywhere throughout the lap, and there is an incredible round, lots of adrenaline and excitement.

“I knew it was a good lap to cross the line, but when they came on the radio and told me I was running third tomorrow, it’s just amazing and I’m really happy.”

Verstappen qualified fifth, behind the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc in fourth, but starts one place ahead of Norris, who could only manage the sixth-fastest time.

George Russell took his fourth career pole and third of the season.

Verstappen’s current championship lead of 62 points means Norris must overtake Verstappen by three points in Las Vegas to keep the championship alive at the penultimate round of the season in Qatar.

The current championship situation means that if the two drivers start where they finish on Saturday, Verstappen will be crowned world champion for the fourth consecutive year.

The qualifying result will also be worrying for McLaren’s constructors’ title hopes, with both Ferraris starting ahead of Norris and teammate Oscar Piastri, who finished eighth in Q3.

Ferrari trail McLaren by 36 points in the standings, but can take a big chunk out of that lead if Sainz and Leclerc can convert the team’s promising long-term pace in practice into genuine pace in Sunday’s race.

Yuki Tsunoda took seventh for RB ahead of Piastri in eighth and Haas driver Nico Hulkenberg in ninth.

Russell’s Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton will start 10th after making mistakes on both of his Q3 laps.

His Mercedes had looked quick throughout practice in Las Vegas, making the result all the more galling for the seven-time world champion, who will leave the team for Ferrari at the end of the season.

Russell said afterwards of his performance: “It’s incredible to be back on pole, we’ve been so quick all weekend and I just knew coming into the final Q3 lap it’s going to be the one that counts, it It doesn’t matter what happened before then.

“I had a bit of a moment in my first race and we had to change the front wing, so for a moment I didn’t think we were going to make it to the flag, but I’m just so happy. We’re going to do it. a deep dive to understand why it’s been so fast so far this weekend because it’s a real surprise.”

Esteban Ocon starts 11th for Alpine ahead of Kevin Magnussen in 12th and Zhou Guanyu in 13th for Sauber.

Williams driver Franco Colapinto hit the inside wall at Turn 16 at the end of Q2 and was shot into the barrier on the outside of the track. Although he walked away from the accident, his participation in the Grand Prix will be subject to medical checks ahead of Saturday’s race.

The car was badly damaged and will require extensive repairs, with the crash coming just three weeks after Williams sustained millions of dollars worth of damage with three crashes across its two cars at the Brazilian Grand Prix. Colapinto qualified 14th ahead of RB’s Liam Lawson in 15th.

The crash comes just three weeks after Williams sustained millions of dollars worth of damage with three crashes across its two cars at the Brazilian Grand Prix. Colapinto starts the race 14th ahead of RB’s Liam Lawson in 15th.

Franco Colapinto's Williams has returned to the pit lane after a crash during qualifying. — Franco Colapinto’s Williams has returned to the pit lane after a crash during qualifying.

Under pressure, Red Bull driver Sergio Perez crashed out in the opening session of qualifying for the sixth time this season. He missed out on a place in Q2 by 0.068 seconds to Lawson, who is hotly tipped to replace Perez at Red Bull if the Mexican’s poor form continues.

Fernando Alonso was 17th fastest at the end of Q1 after complaining of being caught by a late yellow flag in the first sector in his final attempt. Williams driver Alex Albon will start in 18th ahead of Sauber’s Valtteri Bottas in 19th.

Lance Stroll set the slowest time in qualifying but only managed one flying lap due to Aston Martin working on his car during the early part of the session to replace its energy recovery system after it failed in final practice.