Russell Tops Final Practice in Thrilling Las Vegas GP Lead-Up
In a dramatic finale to the practice sessions for the Las Vegas Grand Prix, George Russell of Mercedes showcased his speed by leading the way in the third and final practice session.
As the teams prepare for the main event, Russell clocked a blistering time of 1:33.570, edging out McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz, who finished second and third respectively.
The session unfolded under chilly and slippery conditions, reminiscent of Thursday’s practice. Drivers quickly adapted, with Sergio Perez of Red Bull expressing early frustrations about grip levels, stating his first run was “miles off.” However, as the session progressed, the pace began to pick up significantly.
Around the midway point, Kevin Magnussen surprised everyone by briefly taking the lead with a time of 1:34.883, before Russell and his teammate Lewis Hamilton surged back to the top.
Hamilton, who had been the fastest in the earlier sessions, managed a 1:34.341, but it was Russell who ultimately secured the top spot.
Max Verstappen, the reigning champion, faced ongoing challenges with his car, describing it as “undriveable” due to persistent issues. After a trip to the Red Bull garage and a switch to softer tires, he managed to clock a competitive 1:34.137, finishing fifth overall.
The session was brought to an abrupt halt with just seven minutes remaining when Lance Stroll’s Aston Martin suffered a technical failure, causing a red flag. This left little time for other drivers to improve their times, solidifying Russell’s lead as the teams now turn their focus to the crucial qualifying session scheduled for later tonight.
In the final standings, Russell was followed closely by Piastri (+0.215s) and Sainz (+0.348s). Notable performances also came from McLaren’s Lando Norris in fourth and Verstappen in fifth. The Williams duo of Alex Albon and Franco Colapinto rounded out the top eight, showcasing a strong showing as they looked to capitalize on any opportunities during the race weekend..
