Russell Fastest in Wild Final Vegas Practice

George Russell topped a chaotic final practice session in Las Vegas, setting a 1m34.054s lap amidst damp track conditions and a scramble for grip. The session saw drivers battling a drying circuit, mixing wet and dry tires, and a series of close calls, including a near-miss for Lewis Hamilton.

Why it matters:

The topsy-turvy nature of all three practice sessions, each topped by a different team, signals a highly unpredictable qualifying and race. The cold, slippery conditions of the Las Vegas Street Circuit have proven challenging for all teams, making any pre-qualifying advantage hard to discern and promising an exciting, high-stakes shootout.

The Details:

• Russell's Pace: George Russell secured the top spot with a 1m34.054s lap, narrowly beating Max Verstappen by 0.227s. His performance came late in the session as the track dried out.
• Verstappen's Frustration: Max Verstappen, initially looking set to lead, locked up into Turn 14 on his final push lap due to slower traffic, expressing his anger over the radio.
• Hamilton's Improvement: Lewis Hamilton, after complaining of missed opportunities in earlier sessions, finally logged a clean lap to go fifth fastest, despite a close call with Liam Lawson.
• Near Collision: Hamilton, pushing hard on intermediate tires, narrowly avoided a major collision with Lawson's Racing Bull into Turn 14, forcing him into the runoff.
• McLaren's Misfortune: Oscar Piastri (19th) and Lando Norris (20th) ended up at the bottom of the timesheets due to late sensor issues preventing them from completing fast laps when the track was at its quickest. Both had shown competitive pace earlier in the session.
• Track Evolution: The session started damp due to pre-session rain, with times rapidly falling as the track dried and drivers switched from intermediate to slick tires.
• Aston Martin's Strong Showing: Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso secured eighth and ninth positions respectively, marking Aston Martin's strongest performance of the weekend.
• Continued Treachery: Several drivers, including Gabriel Bortoleto, Hamilton, Albon, and Verstappen, ran off track or overshot corners, highlighting the challenging conditions.

What's next:

With no clear favorite emerging from the practice sessions and the track proving consistently tricky, qualifying is expected to be a dramatic and unpredictable affair. Teams will face a significant gamble in setting up their cars, and drivers will need to be at their absolute best to navigate the challenging Las Vegas circuit.

• Qualifying begins at 8 PM local time, with fans anticipating an enthralling battle for pole position.