Aurélie Sacchelli, Media365, published on Saturday November 23, 2024 at 8:32 a.m.
Mercedes driver George Russell took pole position for the Las Vegas Grand Prix, ahead of Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) and Pierre Gasly (Alpine). Title rivals Max Verstappen (Red Bull) and Lando Norris (McLaren) will start fifth and sixth.
Fourth pole position for George Russell! The Mercedes were in good shape since the start of free practice in Las Vegas (Hamilton best time in FP1 and FP2, Russell best time in FP3) and Russell confirmed this during the qualifying session, on a 14.5° track. c, winning pole in 1'32″312. The British driver was the last to set a fast lap, and he overtook Carlos Sainz, who thought he had pole, by 98 thousandths. The two men will start (Sunday at 7 a.m. French time) from the first row, just in front of Pierre Gasly, who completed a magnificent session to climb into third position, 352 thousandths behind Russell. The Frenchman will start alongside his friend Charles Leclerc, who admitted that he was unable to get his tires up to temperature, unlike his teammate Sainz. On the third row, we will find the two rivals for the title, Max Verstappen and Lando Norris. The Dutchman will be crowned world champion for the fourth time if he finishes ahead of the Briton. He will start in front of him, it is already a first step for the Red Bull driver. Disappointment on the other hand for Lewis Hamilton, so brilliant on Thursday, but who will only be tenth on the starting grid.
Colapinto causes a red flag
If Q1 had taken place without incident, Q2 was marked by the crash of Franco Colapinto. In his last attempt at a fast lap, when he was 14th and therefore virtually eliminated, the Argentine missed turn 17 and seriously damaged his Williams, which caused the delay in the start of Q3. His mechanics will have to work hard in preparation for the Grand Prix, in 23 hours… Esteban Ocon, Kevin Magnussen, Guanyu Zhou and Liam Lawson were the other drivers eliminated, while Lewis Hamilton had set the best time of this Q2, in 1'32″567. During Q1, it was already George Russell who had set the best time, in 1'33″186. A much better time than Sergio Perez, Fernando Alonso, Valtteri Bottas (who will start at the back of the grid due to a five-place penalty for changing an engine element) and Lance Stroll, all eliminated. This is already the sixth time this season that Sergio Perez, who admitted not having managed to manage his tires, has not seen Q2. Enough to wonder about his future at Red Bull…
