George Russell delivered a sensational lap to secure pole position for the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix, while Max Verstappen bolstered his championship hopes by finishing ahead of Lando Norris.
After Mercedes dominated all three practice sessions, Russell carried the momentum forward, narrowly beating Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz by less than a tenth of a second.
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Pierre Gasly sprang a surprise for Alpine, claiming third as the evolving track conditions shook up the order in the final moments. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc took fourth, just ahead of Red Bull’s Verstappen, who can clinch his fourth consecutive Drivers’ title by finishing ahead of Norris in the race. Verstappen edged the McLaren driver, who ended up sixth, in a critical battle that could decide the championship.
Norris needed to outscore Verstappen by three points to keep the title fight alive heading into the 2024 Qatar Grand Prix.
Lewis Hamilton, expected to challenge teammate Russell for pole after strong practice and early qualifying performances, faltered in Q3 with mistakes on both flying laps. He would start from 10th on the grid.
RB’s Yuki Tsunoda delivered an impressive performance to secure seventh, edging out McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, while Nico Hulkenberg claimed ninth for Haas.
Sergio Perez’s Qualifying woes persisted as the embattled Red Bull driver suffered another early exit, being eliminated in Q1 for the fifth time this season.
Williams’ Franco Colapinto, rumoured as a potential replacement for Perez should Red Bull opt for a lineup change in 2025, looked to have dented his chances after a heavy crash at the end of Q2. The incident caused significant damage and led to a 20-minute delay.
Las Vegas GP Qualifying Results
2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix Qualifying, 22 November 2024
Since winning three out of four races before the summer break, Mercedes had struggled to contend for podium finishes since then. It was a surprise when they dominated all three practice sessions under the Las Vegas lights.
Despite their strong practice pace, Mercedes had often faltered in 2024 when it mattered most, leaving doubts even as George Russell topped Q1 and Lewis Hamilton went fastest in Q2.
Hamilton, who faced significant challenges in Qualifying for 2024, compromised his first flying lap in Q3 with a lock-up that ruined his tyres. With limited time to adapt to track conditions following the delay caused by Franco Colapinto’s crash, Hamilton made another mistake on his final attempt, finishing well off the pace.
Russell, however, delivered an impressive first flying lap in Q3 to take the lead. Despite brushing the barrier and damaging his front wing, he returned to the track just in time for a final lap. Russell edged Carlos Sainz to claim pole, taking full advantage of improving conditions.
Sainz impressed with a strong lap, finishing nearly four-tenths ahead of his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc. Pierre Gasly split the Ferraris, continuing Alpine’s resurgence after their unexpected podiums in Brazil and boosting their hopes of securing sixth in the Constructors’ Championship.
2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix Starting Grid
The Grand Prix starting grid, with or without penalties, after the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix Qualifying session.
2Franco Colapinto required to start from the pit lane after car was modified under Parc Ferme conditions and additional gearbox components were used.
McLaren’s underwhelming performance opened the door for Ferrari to close the 36-point gap at the top of the Constructors’ Championship. With the strongest long-run pace evident in practice, the Italian team was well-positioned to challenge George Russell for victory in Las Vegas.
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