Just In: Verstappen BEATEN again at Las Vegas Grand Prix after major Red Bull’s…read more
Verstappen BEATEN again at Las Vegas Grand Prix after major Red Bull’s…read more
Max Verstappen faced a challenging session at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, with a series of Red Bull strategy errors leaving him unable to match the pace of his rivals. The Dutchman, who has dominated much of the 2024 season, appeared off the mark during Free Practice 3, finishing fifth on the timesheets and over half a second behind the session leader, George Russell of Mercedes.
The session proved to be frustrating for Verstappen, who repeatedly voiced concerns about his car’s handling throughout practice. Red Bull’s decision to send their drivers out on medium tires early in the session left them at a disadvantage as track conditions improved significantly. While their competitors benefited from faster laps on soft tires in the later stages, Verstappen struggled to close the gap.
George Russell continued Mercedes’ strong form in Las Vegas by setting the fastest lap with a time of 1:33.570, extending Mercedes’ streak of topping every session so far. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri impressed by finishing second, just 0.215 seconds off Russell’s pace, while Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz secured third. Lando Norris, Verstappen’s closest championship rival, finished fourth, edging closer to the points haul he needs to challenge Verstappen for the title.
Verstappen’s underwhelming fifth-place finish highlighted a rare moment of vulnerability for the reigning champion. With only one race weekend remaining after Las Vegas, he must outperform Norris to clinch the title early and avoid taking the fight to Qatar.
Further down the grid, the session was red-flagged toward the end due to Lance Stroll’s Aston Martin grinding to a halt on track after a mechanical failure. Stroll, who finished 19th, struggled throughout the session, as did Zhou Guanyu, who rounded out the leaderboard in 20th for Kick Sauber.
Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton took sixth for Mercedes, while Williams showcased strong pace with Alex Albon in seventh and rookie Franco Colapinto in eighth. Kevin Magnussen secured ninth for Haas, followed closely by Alpine’s Pierre Gasly in tenth.
As Red Bull recalibrates its strategy ahead of qualifying, Verstappen will need to find answers to his handling woes. With the title still up for grabs and rivals like Norris and Russell in excellent form, the Las Vegas Grand Prix could prove to be a pivotal moment in the 2024 season.
F1 FP3 Results: Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
1. George Russell [Mercedes] – 1:33.570sec
2. Oscar Piastri [McLaren] – +0.215sec
3. Carlos Sainz [Ferrari] – +0.348sec
4. Lando Norris [McLaren] – +0.438sec
5. Max Verstappen [Red Bull] – +0.567sec
6. Lewis Hamilton [Mercedes] – +0.771sec
7. Alex Albon [Williams] – +0.837sec
8. Franco Colapinto [Williams] – +1.153sec
9. Kevin Magnussen [Haas] – +1.313sec
10. Pierre Gasly [Alpine] – +1.335sec
11. Nico Hulkenberg [Haas] – +1.338sec
12. Charles Leclerc [Ferrari] – +1.371sec
13. Sergio Perez [Red Bull] – +1.491sec
14. Esteban Ocon [Alpine] – +1.890sec
15. Fernando Alonso [Aston Martin] – +2.368sec
16. Yuki Tsunoda [VCARB] – +2.645sec
17. Valtteri Bottas [Kick Sauber] – +2.842sec
18. Liam Lawson [VCARB] – +2.974sec
19. Lance Stroll [Aston Martin] – +3.380sec
20. Zhou Guanyu [Kick Sauber] – +3.418sec
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