George Russell started from the pole and fended off an early challenge from Charles Leclerc, then checked out on his way to an easy win in the Heineken Las Vegas Grand Prix on Sunday (November 24th). It was Russell’s second win of the season after taking the Austrian Grand Prix in late June. Lewis Hamilton was second after starting 10th.
“It’s been a dream of a weekend,” Russell said. “I don’t know how we’ve been so quick, but I’m just riding this wave right now.
“To get a victory here, pole position, a dominant weekend, one-two with Lewis as well – we couldn’t have chosen a better place to make this happen.”
Max Verstappen clinched the world championship, his fourth in a row, by finishing fifth, well ahead of challenger Lando Norris, who was well back in a helpless sixth. Norris managed to grab an extra point by laying down the fastest lap on the final lap.
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“It’s been a long season,” Verstappen said. “Of course we started off amazing, it was almost like a cruise, but then we had a tough run but as a team we kept it together, we kept working on improvements, and we pulled over the line. I’m incredibly proud of everyone, what they’ve done for me.
“Standing here as a four-time world champion, of course, is something that I never thought was possible. At the moment I’m just feeling relieved in a way but also very proud.”
The Ferraris of Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc finished third and fourth, respectively, with McLaren’s Oscar Piastri in seventh behind Verstappen and Norris. Haas’ Nico Hülkenberg was eighth, with Red Bull Visa Cash App’s Yuki Tsunoda in ninth, and Red Bull’s Sergio Perez crossing the line 10th after starting 16th.
In the driver standings, Verstappen now leads Norris by 63 points. Leclerc sits in third, only 21 behind Norris.
In the constructor standings, McLaren leads Ferrari 608 to 584 after Ferrari trimmed 14 points off their rival’s lead. Red Bull is in third, just 29 behind Ferrari.
The Race
Russell blasted off the line at lights out, while Leclerc’s start was even better, as he passed Gasly and Sainz to move up to second. Verstappen and Norris held serve in fifth and sixth, as the McLaren driver hoped to delay Verstappen’s fourth championship.
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Leclerc was quickly on the hunt for the lead, pressuring Russell for the lead…
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