The French driver of the Alpine team was the author of a superb performance in the United States in a qualifying dominated by George Russell and his Mercedes.
Britain’s George Russell will start from pole position in the Formula One Grand Prix in Las Vegas on Saturday night ahead of Frenchman Pierre Gasly in third, while reigning champion Max Verstappen, who has a first chance to retain his world title, will start fifth ahead of his last rival Lando Norris, sixth.
In the furnishing of «The city of sin»the city of sin, «Mr. Giorgio» he brought out all the power of his car to take the fourth pole of his career, a performance that obviously seemed promised to Mercedes, given that the German team seemed at ease right from the start of the weekend in the cool of Nevada (there it was just ten degrees in the evening) and the dusty streets of Las Vegas.
Russell will start ahead of Spaniard Carlos Sainz (Ferrari), second in qualifying on Friday evening, and Pierre Gasly, third at the wheel of his Alpine.
The Frenchman achieved his best performance of the season in qualifying in the United States, just three weeks after finishing third in the Brazilian GP. He will start in front of the Ferrari of Monegasque Charles Leclerc, fourth.
The third row will go to the last two title contenders, Verstappen (Red Bull) who will have beaten Norris (McLaren), finally sixth.
The two rivals will set off on Saturday evening from 10pm local time (7am Sunday Paris time) for 50 laps around the famous Strip where Verstappen has his first chance to win his fourth consecutive title in motorsport’s top category. To achieve this, the Dutchman will not have to give up more than two points to Lando Norris, while 60 points will remain to be distributed at the end of the GP.
Clashes between producers
For this 22nd round of the season (out of 24) – which kicks off the final marathon of three GPs in three weeks – Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) will only be tenth. The seven-time world champion will start behind the modest Haas of German Nico Hulkenberg, ninth, and the McLaren of Oscar Piastri, eighth.
During the second part of qualifying, the 21-year-old rookie heavily damaged his Williams after crashing into a wall, an accident from which he emerged unscathed but which delayed the remainder of qualifying by 20 minutes, long enough to secure the runway and clean up the numerous debris. In the general classification, if the drivers’ title no longer seems to be able to escape «Mad Max»everything remains to be played by the producers.
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Alpine, pushed to sixth place (out of 10) in the championship with 49 points thanks to a strategic winning move during the Brazilian GP, will try to maintain its position until the last round of the season, in Abu Dhabi on 8 December, also if currently only three points ahead of Haas (46 points) and five over the Racing Bulls (44 points).
Up front, the three leading teams are separated by just 49 points: leading McLaren is 36 points ahead of second-placed Ferrari. Reigning champion Red Bull – whose second driver Sergio Pérez will only start 16th on Saturday evening – completes the provisional top 3
“The goal is to beat McLaren”Leclerc assured earlier this week, “and we really think we have a chance this year”. It must be said that for the Scuderia the shortage has lasted too long given that the legendary Italian team has not won a title since 2008.
How does George Russell’s pole position impact his prospects for the season?
Interview between Time.news Editor and Formula 1 Expert
Editor: Welcome to Time.news! Today, we have a very special guest, a respected expert in the world of Formula 1, who will help us unpack the thrilling events of the recent qualifying session in Las Vegas. Thank you for joining us!
Expert: Thank you for having me. It’s great to be here!
Editor: Let’s dive right in. George Russell put in an impressive performance, securing pole position for the Grand Prix in Las Vegas. What did you make of his drive?
Expert: George’s performance was nothing short of spectacular! He’s really found his groove with the Mercedes team, especially in those cooler conditions in Nevada. You can see how confident he is behind the wheel. It was his fourth pole of his career, and there’s no question that he’s solidified his status as a top contender this season.
Editor: Absolutely! Pierre Gasly managed to qualify in third. Given that this was his best qualifying of the season, how significant is this for him and the Alpine team?
Expert: It’s hugely significant. Qualifying in third means that Gasly is not only in a strong position but also reflects the progress Alpine has made since the beginning of the season. After finishing third in Brazil just three weeks earlier, this will give him a lot of confidence going into the race. Alpine is showing that they are capable of competing right up there with the big names, which could be a game changer for their future.
Editor: Speaking of competition, Max Verstappen is starting in fifth, which is a bit of a surprise. With just two races left in the season, how critical is this starting position for his title ambitions?
Expert: Every position counts, especially with the championship on the line! Verstappen needs a solid performance, and starting fifth puts him in a bit of a precarious situation. He can’t afford to lose too many points to Lando Norris, who is right behind him. The pressure will be on, and we all know how Verstappen thrives under pressure, but he needs to navigate through the midfield wisely to secure valuable points.
Editor: And Lewis Hamilton’s qualifying didn’t go as well as we’re used to seeing, starting from tenth. What do you think happened there?
Expert: Mercedes seemed to be in great form throughout the weekend, but it’s a classic case of how quickly things can change in qualifying. Hamilton made some mistakes that put him out of rhythm, and with the pace of the others being so strong, particularly from the Ferraris and McLarens, he found himself lower on the grid than he’d like. For someone with his experience, you can bet he’ll be looking to make up for lost ground in the race.
Editor: The Las Vegas race is set to be a thrilling event. With the unique layout and atmosphere of ‘the city of sin’, what can we expect in terms of race strategy and potential surprises?
Expert: The Las Vegas track is known for its high-speed straights and tight corners, which makes it a fascinating challenge for teams. Teams will need to balance tire wear with speed. Strategy will be key—do you pit early, or wait for possible safety cars that could change the race dynamics? Plus, with the added pressure of it being such a prominent event, we could see the usual contenders challenged by unexpected mishaps or rookie performances, like we saw with the incident involving Oscar Piastri.
Editor: It sounds like an electrifying race ahead! Any final thoughts on what fans should keep an eye on during the Grand Prix?
Expert: Definitely keep an eye on the young talents and how they perform under pressure, as well as how the championship contenders manage their races. The rivalry between Verstappen and Norris will be fascinating to watch. Every point matters, and this race is crucial in the context of the title battle. Buckle up, it’s going to be an exciting showdown!
Editor: Thank you so much for your insights! It seems we have a lot to look forward to in Las Vegas. We appreciate you joining us today.
Expert: My pleasure! Looking forward to a thrilling race!