George Russell Dominates Final Practice Ahead of Las Vegas Grand Prix – What You Need to Know!

In a thrilling final practice session for the highly anticipated 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix, Mercedes driver George Russell showcased impressive speed, finishing at the top of the timesheets ahead of McLaren's Oscar Piastri and Ferrari's Carlos Sainz. The session took place on Friday in challenging cold and slippery conditions reminiscent of Thursday's practice.

As the session kicked off, drivers struggled to find grip on the track with Sergio Perez stating his initial runs felt "miles off" due to the low levels of traction. However, it was not long before others began to pick up speed. Approximately 20 minutes in, the only drivers to have posted competitive times were Perez and teammate Max Verstappen, initially clocking times in the low 1m 41s range on medium tires.

The pace shifted dramatically once the McLaren duo of Lando Norris and Piastri took to the soft tires, with Piastri setting a blistering time of 1m 35.759s, putting him at the top momentarily. It was Kevin Magnussen who shocked many by taking the lead halfway through with a time of 1m 34.883s, with notable drivers like Charles Leclerc and Russell trailing closely behind.

Mercedes then unleashed their speed, with Russell clocking a time of 1m 34.475s, followed by Lewis Hamilton at 1m 34.341s, showcasing a formidable one-two punch as they began to close in on the session's fastest time from earlier practices.

However, reigning champion Max Verstappen faced difficulties as he reported his car was "getting worse" and "undriveable" due to issues with the left-front tire. A visit to the Red Bull garage and a switch to soft tires, however, allowed him to return to form, setting a new fastest lap of 1m 34.137s and temporarily placing him ahead of both Mercedes drivers.

The session took a dramatic turn with just seven minutes left on the clock when Lance Stroll’s Aston Martin lost power and halted on track, rendering further attempts at fast laps impossible. Consequently, the session concluded with Russell clinching the top spot with a time of 1m 33.570s.

Following Russell in the standings were Piastri, Sainz, Norris, and Verstappen, as Hamilton, who had led the previous practice sessions, finished in sixth. Williams drivers Alex Albon and Franco Colapinto took seventh and eighth positions, respectively, boosting their confidence after difficult previous sessions.

With just one practice session left, drivers will regroup and analyze data before the crucial qualifying session set to commence at 10 PM local time. Fans are eager to see if the Mercedes duo can maintain this pace into the race, and if Verstappen can overcome his earlier woes to contend for pole position. The stakes are high as the Las Vegas Grand Prix promises to be a spectacle filled with speed and adrenaline. Keep your eyes glued for an action-packed day ahead!