Russell qualified for Las Vegas

Dark. Dry. Air +12C, highway +15…14C

Qualifying in Las Vegas is no less exciting than playing in the casinos around the circuit. It forces riders to attack, which is risky on the slippery and always dusty asphalt of a walled city track, but the stakes are high: a good starting position gives a high chance of success in the race.

McLaren introduced a new front wing with less downforce, hoping to gain an advantage on the straights. Ferrari also prepared new products, but Mercedes drivers led the way during training. In the first two practice sessions, Lewis Hamilton was in the lead, and in the third, George Russell showed the best time.

Pirelli brought the softest tires to the podium – C3, C4 and C5 in Hard, Medium and Soft roles, but the hard tires were almost not used even during training, as they were too hard on the cold asphalt.

At 10pm local time, 9am Moscow time, the drivers left the pits to begin one of the most interesting qualifying sessions of the season.

In the first session Everyone rode Soft except Russell – he got Medium, rolled out the gear and, without completing the lap, returned to the pits for Soft. Due to the slow warming of the rubber, many worked in a series of laps, gradually putting the tires into work mode.

Lance Stroll’s car was dismantled – Aston Martin mechanics proceeded to replace the power unit after its failure at the end of the third practice session and succeeded – the Canadian took off in the last minutes. Haas F1 abandoned the first attempt, saved a set of tires and avoided traffic.

Piastri topped the timesheet with 1:33.450, after which Russell and Leclerc were eight-hundredths faster, while Verstappen topped the list with 1:33.299. The top five were separated by two tenths.

Albon’s lap was canceled due to leaving the track, Hulkenberg spun without consequences for the car – he was able to continue.

In the final seconds, first Hamilton and then Russell showed the best time – George was four hundredths faster. Perez (who received a car this weekend with all the new features that Verstappen uses), Alonso, Albon, Bottas and Stroll dropped out of the further battle.

In the second session there was less traffic, the track became a little faster – the drivers increased their pace and on the first attempt Hamilton showed the best time, completing a lap in 1:33.136. The Ferrari drivers missed the attempt.

Many improved on the second attempt, but Hamilton again showed the best time: 1:32.567.

After the session, debutant Colapinto crashed his car. Franco hit the wall in turn 16, the car crossed the track and flew into the barrier.

Williams struggled to find the parts to put both cars in Vegas after a series of accidents in previous races, but one of them finished the second part of qualifying on three wheels. A few minutes after the incident, Williams confirmed that they had spare parts for repairs and that Colapinto’s car would be restored before the start.

Ocon, Magnussen, Zhou, Colapinto and Lawson did not qualify for the final. Franco himself left the car, but was sent to a medical center – the dangerous overload sensor was activated.

Last session had to be postponed – the asphalt was covered with Williams’ wreckage and the barrier was damaged. After a twenty minute break the riders could leave.

On the first attempt, Russell set the fastest time, completing a lap of 1:32.811, but hit the barrier and drove into the pits to allow the mechanics to check the car. Hamilton ruined his attempt by driving off the track, then made a mistake in the first sector of the second fast lap and abandoned the attack.

On the second attempt, Leclerc was ahead of Russell, after which Gasly and Sainz drove even faster, but George regained the lead and completed a lap in 1:32.312.

George Russell won qualifying in Las Vegas to take his third pole of the season and fourth of his career.

Tomorrow, Russell and Sainz will start from the front row, Gasly and Leclerc from the second row, two rivals for the title – Verstappen and Norris – from the third row.

Qualifying results