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George Russell Secures Sensational Las Vegas Pole Amid Chaos, Drama, and a Resurgent Sainz

Carl Harrison by Carl Harrison
January 9, 2025
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 5 mins read
0
George Russell Secures Sensational Las Vegas Pole Amid Chaos, Drama, and a Resurgent Sainz

Formula One F1 - Las Vegas Grand Prix - Las Vegas Strip Circuit, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States - November 22, 2024 Mercedes' George Russell in action during qualifying REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein

In a wild and action-packed qualifying session under the neon lights of Las Vegas, George Russell delivered a commanding performance to claim pole position for the Las Vegas Grand Prix. Despite clipping the wall at Turn 5 during Q3, Russell’s blistering lap of 1:32.312 edged Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz by just 0.098 seconds, while Pierre Gasly surprised with a strong P3 finish for Alpine.


Colapinto Crash Causes Delays

The start of Q3 was delayed after a dramatic crash by Franco Colapinto in Q2. The Williams rookie slammed into the barriers at Turn 15/16, leaving debris strewn across the track and causing significant damage to the barriers. The incident paused proceedings for nearly 30 minutes as crews worked to restore the track. Thankfully, Colapinto emerged unscathed but left Williams with yet another massive repair job after their tumultuous weekend in Brazil.


Q1: Perez Flops, Mercedes Sets the Tone

The session began with a flurry as drivers rushed to set laps, wary of potential red flags. While Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris initially set the pace for McLaren, it was George Russell who stamped his authority, edging teammate Lewis Hamilton for the top spot. Meanwhile, Max Verstappen settled into fourth but struggled to find his usual dominance.

The shock of Q1 came from Sergio Perez, whose dismal run continued with his ninth Q1 elimination of the season. Perez’s struggles compounded Red Bull’s woes, with Fernando Alonso, Alex Albon, Valtteri Bottas, and an out-of-sorts Lance Stroll joining him in early exits.


Q2: Hamilton Shines as Colapinto Crashes

As Q2 unfolded, Lewis Hamilton delivered a stunning lap to lead the session with a 1:32.5, while the top five—Hamilton, Piastri, Verstappen, Norris, and Russell—were separated by just tenths. However, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz left it late to set competitive times, heightening the tension.

The session ended in chaos as Colapinto collided with the barriers in a high-speed crash. The impact ended his qualifying hopes and required extensive repairs to the track infrastructure.

Eliminated in Q2 were Esteban Ocon, Kevin Magnussen, Zhou Guanyu, Colapinto, and Liam Lawson.


Q3: Russell Triumphs Amid Late-Session Drama

When Q3 finally began, George Russell showcased his ice-cold composure. Despite brushing the wall at Turn 5, the Mercedes driver set a scorching 1:32.312, holding off a resurgent Carlos Sainz and a surprising Pierre Gasly. Ferrari’s Leclerc briefly topped the timesheets before being eclipsed by his teammate Sainz and eventually Russell.

Defending champion Max Verstappen, hindered by Red Bull’s rear wing misstep, managed only P5, while Lando Norris slotted into P6. Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton endured a difficult session, aborting his final lap after a lock-up and settling for P10.


Qualifying Results: Top 10

  1. George Russell (Mercedes) – 1:32.312
  2. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) – +0.098
  3. Pierre Gasly (Alpine) – +0.352
  4. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – +0.471
  5. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – +0.485
  6. Lando Norris (McLaren) – +0.696
  7. Yuki Tsunoda (AlphaTauri) – +0.717
  8. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – +0.721
  9. Nico Hulkenberg (Haas) – +0.750
  10. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) – +15.794

Key Takeaways

  • Russell’s Resilience: The Brit continues his strong form, outpacing his rivals and overcoming a slight error to clinch pole in a high-pressure session.
  • Ferrari Fights Back: Both Sainz and Leclerc showed promise, with Sainz narrowly missing out on pole. The Scuderia remains poised for a strong race.
  • Red Bull’s Struggles: Verstappen’s rear wing setback limited his qualifying potential, but he remains a threat starting from P5.
  • Gasly’s Surprise: Gasly capitalized on Alpine’s solid pace to secure a stunning P3, underscoring his growing confidence in the car.

What to Expect in the Race

With Mercedes and Ferrari locking out the front rows, strategy and tire management will play a pivotal role in determining the winner on Las Vegas’s high-speed, low-grip circuit. Verstappen faces an uphill battle but remains a formidable contender, while McLaren and Alpine will aim to capitalize on their strong grid positions.

The race promises drama, with championship battles and high stakes adding to the excitement under the bright lights of Sin City.

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