George Russell claimed pole position for the Las Vegas GP, followed by Carlos Sainz and Pierre Gasly. Verstappen will start fifth, aiming to climb positions to secure the championship. The fight for points-scoring positions also promises excitement.
The qualifying sessions for the Las Vegas Grand Prix have concluded, resulting in a very exciting grid for tomorrow. Starting from the top spot, George Russell clocked the fastest time and secured pole position—his third of 2024 and the fourth in his career.
This Is How the Las Vegas Grid Looks
Behind the Mercedes driver, Carlos Sainz was the second fastest in the competition. The Ferrari driver was just 0.098 seconds off Russell’s time. The big surprise, showing an exceptional performance on the Las Vegas Strip, was Pierre Gasly of Alpine, who, at 0.352 seconds behind first place, secured third position to complete the Top 3 on the grid.
In fourth place, we find the second Ferrari, as Charles Leclerc was the fourth best in Q3. All eyes will be on the fifth starting position, as Max Verstappen will begin the race from there. The Dutchman aims to secure the 2024 championship and his fourth world title but must climb four positions to achieve it, as finishing first is essential for this scenario to materialize.
A Top 10 Packed with Fierce Competition
Rounding out the top 10 starting positions are many drivers determined to improve their places or, at the very least, defend them. Lando Norris in sixth, Yuki Tsunoda in seventh, Oscar Piastri in eighth, Nico Hülkenberg in ninth, and Lewis Hamilton in tenth will fiercely battle for points. With the season’s end approaching, every point is more valuable than ever.
The Backmarkers and Early Exits
Further down the grid, we find Esteban Ocon, Kevin Magnussen, Guanyu Zhou, Franco Colapinto, and Liam Lawson, who occupy positions 11 through 15, respectively.
Farther back are the drivers who barely participated in Q1: Sergio Pérez, Fernando Alonso, Alexander Albon, Valtteri Bottas, and Lance Stroll complete the last spots on the grid. The Mexican Red Bull driver is undoubtedly the one under pressure to make up positions if the team hopes to earn points in the Constructors’ Championship, where they currently sit third.
The race is scheduled for tomorrow at 12 a.m. Central Mexico time, meaning fans will have to stay up late to enjoy the excitement of this GP.
Cover photo: X (@F1)
