Las Vegas GP: George Russell Tops Tricky Final Practice
George Russell led a challenging final practice session at the Las Vegas Grand Prix with a 1m34.054s, narrowly beating Max Verstappen. Mixed conditions and a slippery track led to numerous incidents, affecting McLaren significantly due to sensor issues. The session highlighted Mercedes' potential and set the stage for an unpredictable qualifying.
George Russell claimed the top spot in the final practice session for the Las Vegas Grand Prix, navigating challenging, mixed conditions to set a benchmark of 1m34.054s. He narrowly edged out Max Verstappen, who was hampered by a late lock-up and traffic. The session saw several drivers struggle with the slippery track, indicating a potentially unpredictable qualifying.
Why it matters:
- The results of FP3, especially under mixed conditions, often provide a critical glimpse into teams' and drivers' abilities to adapt, which is crucial for race day in unpredictable environments.
- Russell's performance in these tricky conditions suggests Mercedes could be a strong contender for pole position, especially as their car seems to handle the low-grip Las Vegas street circuit well.
- Max Verstappen's minor errors highlight that even top drivers can be caught out by the unique challenges of a street circuit and changing grip levels, adding an element of uncertainty to qualifying.
The Details:
- Russell's Dominance: George Russell finished FP3 with a 1m34.054s, leading Max Verstappen by 0.227s.
- Verstappen's Struggles: Verstappen's final push lap was compromised by a lock-up and traffic, costing him valuable time.
- Surprise Performances: Alex Albon (Williams) and Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) posted impressive times, securing third and fourth positions, respectively.
- Hamilton's Close Call: Lewis Hamilton, who finished fifth, had a notable incident with Liam Lawson.
- McLaren's Woes: Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri ended the session slowest due to late sensor issues, preventing them from setting competitive lap times despite showing earlier pace.
- Slippery Track: The mixed conditions led to multiple drivers, including Hamilton, Albon, and Verstappen, running off track, emphasizing the low-grip nature of the Las Vegas circuit.
What's next:
Qualifying is scheduled to commence at 8 pm local time, promising an intense battle for grid positions. Given the mixed conditions and the tight gaps seen in FP3, the fight for pole in Las Vegas is expected to be highly competitive and could feature some unexpected contenders. The varying performances across teams suggest that setup, driver skill, and adaptability to the track will be paramount in determining the starting grid.