Las Vegas GP, watchalong with Live Timings: Ferrari fights for F1 championship

Russell from pole, Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc right behind: follow the LIVE coverage of the 2024 Las Vegas GP.

Starting grid: this is how they will line up in Las Vegas
George Russell’s Mercedes secured pole position in Nevada, showing great pace from the start of the weekend. The Silver Arrows were the most comfortable on the cold Las Vegas asphalt, and the British driver took full advantage.

Alongside Russell’s #63 from Brackley will be Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari. The Spaniard managed to extract the maximum from the SF-24 in his final attempt in Q3 and is already preparing to make a move in Turn 1. In the second row, alongside the surprise Alpine, will be Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari. The Monegasque driver also has his sights set on victory, relying on a Ferrari expected to perform at its best over the long distance of the race.

Further back will be the two McLaren cars of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, who will be tasked with limiting the damage against a charging Ferrari. The papaya cars were not particularly dominant in qualifying, and Max Verstappen may seize the opportunity to gain the few points needed to mathematically seal his fourth consecutive world title.

Las Vegas weather: a less cold GP, but with many uncertainties
In November, the temperatures in autumn Las Vegas are quite chilly. Teams and drivers have already felt this in the free practices and qualifying sessions, and they will experience it again in the race.

On Saturday evening, the day of the F1 GP, temperatures will be milder than in the free practices and qualifying. It’s expected to reach around 16°C, a luxury compared to previous days. There’s no risk of rain during the race, but the wind intensity seems likely to increase compared to qualifying.

The challenging conditions will come from the still-cold asphalt. The cars will need to manage significant graining, along with a hard tire that no one has tried during the free practices.

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F1 World Championship standings: first match point in Las Vegas
Looking at the Drivers’ Championship, the first mathematical verdict could arrive in Las Vegas. The “Sin City” race is the third-to-last event of the season: Max Verstappen starts the race with a 62-point lead over Lando Norris, his closest rival.

To mathematically secure the championship in Nevada, Max Verstappen will need to finish the race with at least a 60-point lead over McLaren’s Norris. If not, the decision will be postponed to Qatar.

Turning attention to the Constructors’ Championship, the fight is much closer. The focus is on the top of the standings: McLaren leads the championship, but their advantage over Ferrari is not secure. There are 36 points between the two teams, and Ferrari will be looking to significantly close the gap in Las Vegas.