Russell Sets the Bar High In an eventful final practice session at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, Mercedes driver George Russell emerged as the fastest, showcasing his team’s strength on the new high-speed street circuit. Russell’s performance, leading by 0.398 seconds, has set high expectations for the upcoming qualifying round.
Unexpected Interruption The session was cut short following a crash by Williams’ Alex Albon at Turn Four. The incident, which resulted in a detached tire and significant damage to Albon’s car, marked the first major accident on the newly introduced Las Vegas track. The premature end to the session left several drivers, including Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, unable to complete their intended runs.
Surprising Performances Russell’s top finish was followed by McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Williams’ Logan Sargeant, who delivered unexpected but impressive performances. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez secured the fourth and fifth spots, respectively, while Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes finished eighth, expressing confusion over the radio about the gap to his teammate.
Challenges on the New Circuit Apart from Albon’s crash, the Las Vegas street circuit had previously faced issues with a loose drain that disrupted the initial practice session. However, no further problems were reported, indicating that the track’s conditions have stabilized.
Looking Ahead to Qualifying With the final practice results stirring intrigue, all eyes are now on the qualifying round. Drivers will be vying for the prime position on this challenging street circuit, hoping to pull out their best performances in the heart of Sin City.
As the Las Vegas Grand Prix moves into its next phase, George Russell’s strong showing in the final practice sets an exciting tone for the qualifying race. Fans and teams eagerly anticipate who will secure pole position and gain an advantage in this high-stakes race.