F1 Las Vegas GP LIVE: Race start time and schedule as George Russell starts on pole
F1 live updates from Vegas on a day where Max Verstappen could claim the 2024 drivers title
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Your support makes all the difference.George Russell put his Mercedes on pole position for the Las Vegas Grand Prix as team-mate Lewis Hamilton faltered to qualify only 10th.
As Russell saw off Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz by just 0.098 seconds to land top spot in Sin City, Hamilton was left to rue two mistakes which leaves him way down the order.
Pierre Gasly took a surprise third for Alpine, one place ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.
Lando Norris must outscore Max Verstappen by at least three points to extend the title battle to the penultimate race in Qatar, but the British driver will start one place behind the Dutchman in sixth.
Follow live updates from the Las Vegas Grand Prix:
F1 Las Vegas GP LIVE: Jenson Button on Perez/Tsunoda at Red Bull:
“Sergio has been a long way off for a long time now. I don’t know anyone who has had so many opportunities in this sport at a big team.
“I’d love to see Yuki get in the car. He’s so chilled and confident.”
PREVIEW: Las Vegas GP returns – with key ingredient present after topsy-turvy F1 debut
As fans trudged away from their expensive acquired seats on night one of the 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix, having seen just eight minutes of cars on track before “manhole gate”, one question sprung to mind: how could the sport come back for this?
Yet beyond all the fanfare which inevitably accompanied Formula One’s lavish return to Sin City last year, what actually saved the inaugural event was the Saturday night race itself. We had overtakes – 82 in fact, the most of any circuit during its debut grand prix – we had safety cars and we had last-lap drama. For a sport which veers too blatantly in the direction of spectacle at times, it was a refreshing nod to the drama the action on track can deliver.
Full preview below:
Las Vegas GP returns for second edition – with key ingredient present after F1 debut
F1’s newest race gives fans and broadcasters opportunities to go bigger and bolder in Sin City, as Kieran Jackson discovers, ahead of a weekend where Max Verstappen can claim his fourth world title
F1 Las Vegas GP LIVE: Max Verstappen after qualifying P5...
“We tried to do the best we could as a team, we tried a lot of different things. It clearly wasn’t enough to fight for pole, I’m still quite happy and still in front of McLaren, which is a bit of a surprise.
“In the long run, both us and McLaren were not great. A lot of teams have made changes, only time will tell tomorrow how we are going to perform.”
How can Max Verstappen win the 2024 title?
There are now just 86 points available across the next three races in Vegas, Qatar (including the final sprint race of the season) and Abu Dhabi.
By the end of the weekend in Vegas, there will be just 60 points left to claim.
That means that if Verstappen simply finishes above Norris in Vegas, he will be crowned the 2024 champion. The Dutchman would also seal the title if both drivers fail to score a point.
Verstappen will also win the 2024 title if Norris does not outscore the Red Bull driver by more than two points.
As a result, Verstappen will be world champion in Sin City if:
- If Norris is second and he finishes third with the fastest lap
- If Norris is third and he finishes fourth with the fastest lap
- If Norris is fourth without the fastest lap and he finishes fifth
- If Norris is fifth without the fastest lap and he finishes sixth
- If Norris is sixth without the fastest lap and he finishes seventh
- If Norris is seventh without the fastest lap and he finishes eighth
- If Norris is eighth without the fastest lap and he finishes ninth
- If Norris is ninth without the fastest lap or lower irrespective of where he he finishes
F1 Las Vegas GP LIVE: Lando Norris after qualifying P6...
“No chance [for pole]. The top three and four out of reach, Mercedes have been the quickest all weekend. Us and Red Bull a decent chunk behind, we expected a bit more than where we were. We’re struggling in every corner, it was too difficult and too much of a challenge with our car.
“I’ll do everything I can, I’m not going to give up until the end even though the chances are extremely slim. I’ll go out tomorrow, it’s a long race, we’re quick in the straights - hopefully that can come to our advantage.”
F1 Las Vegas GP LIVE: Lewis Hamilton after qualifying P10...
“It is what it is.
“Conditions were great, nice and cool. It’s been really nice all weekend.
“I’m quite far back, see what I can do. Degradation is key.”
Despondent interview from Hamilton....
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff:
“We just need winter times, we need Silverstone and Spa in the rain. Our car comes alive when there’s a lack of grip and it’s cold.
“We just need to next year have a base which functions at all kinds of track. Let’s see what we can do tomorrow.
“Leclerc was the quickest on the long runs yesterday, it’s about making sure the tyres don’t grain.”
F1 Las Vegas GP LIVE: Pierre Gasly after finishing P3...
“It’s unbelievable, we didn’t think we could do that. An incredible lap, especially around this track. A lot of adrenaline and excitement. Really happy.
“I was getting cold in the car, I just wanted to get going. That last lap was the one that mattered. It felt great, great period for the team after the double podium in Brazil.”
F1 Las Vegas GP LIVE: Carlos Sainz after finishing second...
“It was a tight quali. Closer to pole than what I was expecting, very happy. We’re in a good position for tomorrow.
“Tomorrow, we could be fighting at the front. We have the chance to go for the win, I feel like today Mercedes were very quick at switching those tyres on. Tomorrow is a clean sheet, new start.
“We need wins to beat McLaren, they have a big gap in the championship.”
F1 Las Vegas GP LIVE: George Russell after claiming pole...
“It feels incredible to be back on pole. I knew it would be on that last Q3 lap, there was a moment where I thought we wouldn’t make the flag. So happy! We have to do some deep diving as to why we’re so quick this weekend, it’s been a big surprise.
“Ultimately, you have to put it on the table sometimes! To get pole position is incredible but we need to return it with some big points.”
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