As we count down the final races of the season, the first stop in our last triple-header took us to the dazzling streets of Sin City. With tyre degradation running high, this Vegas race was all about strategy, precision, and a bit of luck. Curious if your favourite driver hit the jackpot or rolled snake eyes? Read on to find out!
Top of the class:
Max Verstappen – Qualifying: 5th | Race: 5th
Even though it seemed inevitable that Max would seal his fourth world title here in Vegas, Red Bull’s weekend got off to a bumpy start. Both bulls were wrestling with the setup all through practice, of which Max was only beginning to get his stride back by qualifying.
Sunday saw him run as high as second, though eventually, he slipped back to fifth. But there were no elbows out, no desperate lunges to defend a podium, because the goal was the title, plain and simple. If it hadn’t been within reach, you can bet he’d have been fighting with anyone and everything, but instead, Max kept calm, steady, and… crowned!
For those who think he’s only won his past championships because of the car—looking at you, Zak Brown—2024 was a reminder that it’s not just a fast car which makes a champion. And Red Bull’s current third spot in constructors? Well, it’s about 95% thanks to Max and his side of the garage (a little side-eye there for you, Checo)
Mercedes:
George Russell – Qualifying: 1st | Race: 1st
Lewis Hamilton – Qualifying: 10th | Race: 2nd
Mercedes had a real jackpot of a weekend. After spending much of 2024 as F1’s fourth-best team, they looked like they’d found the magic formula again in Vegas.
From the start, it was clear Mercedes was in for a strong weekend, pole looking possible but with doubts on whether that would actually convert into a win as they weren’t convinced of their pace on the long run. Then George nabbed pole, and on race day, he pulled away with a confidence we haven’t always seen this season. Yes, Lewis whittled the gap down to a mere few seconds at one point, but Russell never looked seriously under threat.
Hamilton’s weekend was no slouch either. Sure, a qualifying 10th wasn’t ideal, but after a 1-2 for the team on Sunday, who’s even thinking about Saturday?
It just goes to show that, in the right conditions, this W15 can be brilliant. The problem? That “window” of performance Mercedes needs has been ridiculously narrow all season, and no one on the team seems to have a real handle on what that window actually looks like or how to get there, which is understandably worrying for Toto Wolff.
Carlos Sainz – Qualifying: 2nd | Race: 3rd
Alright, it may seem predictable to throw the podium finishers and the champion onto the top list, but let’s be real—Vegas wasn’t exactly the most nail-biting Grand Prix of the year, most of the battles were fought through pitstop strategies, so we’re celebrating the obvious wins here.
After a wretched weekend in Brazil, the Spaniard found his stride again in Vegas. This track seems to suit Sainz, and he clearly knew it—he qualified second here last year, too. He repeated that performance in qualifying, though a rough start saw him lose a little ground early on. Not one to go quietly, he battled back and grabbed that final podium spot.
I’d imagine that his teammate Charles Leclerc was none too chuffed with that, as apparently Sainz had been instructed not to put him under pressure after the second stop. Clearly, he didn’t adhere to it, which as a fervent hater of team orders I support, especially because there is no future for Sainz at Ferrari – but it is something which many a team principal won’t enjoy.
Honourable mention of the day goes to Nico Hülkenberg
In the tight fight for P6 in the constructor standings, Hülkenberg came through big for Haas. Starting ninth after his tenth Q3 appearance of the season, he expertly managed his tyres. This extended his stint and set him up to charge through the midfield.
A late pass on VCARB’s Yuki Tsunoda clinched a crucial P8 come the chequered flag and four more points to his impressive 2024 tally, bumping Haas back ahead of Alpine. With two races and a Sprint to go, every move counts!
The struggle bus:
Williams:
Franco Colapinto – Qualifying: 14th (started from pitlane) | Race: 14th
Alexander Albon – Qualifying: 17th (promoted from 18th) | Race: DNF
Sparing a thought for the Williams mechanics and accountants as another eye-wateringly expensive crash occurred in Saturday’s qualifying session. It was rookie Colapinto in the wall with a hefty 50g crash at turn 16.
The team pulled together to rebuild the #43 car and the Argentine started from the pit lane. Using the hard tyres on the first stint allowed Franco to go long but there was no pace to challenge for points, coming home 14th.
Albon was looking to banish his São Paulo disappointment behind but was unable to in Las Vegas, qualifying over seven-tenths off his teammate and being knocked out in Q1. He did run as high as tenth in the race but had to retire with a terminal engine issue.
No points and another $3 million repair bill, Williams’ 2025 car will need some cotton wool at this rate.
Alpine:
Pierre Gasly – Qualifying: 3rd | Race: DNF
Esteban Ocon – Qualifying: 11th | Race: 17th
After their triumph in Brazil, Las Vegas was a humbling reality check for Alpine as strategy and reliability errors cost the team dearly.
Pierre qualified a magnificent third, his second consecutive row 2-start at the track before engine failure on lap 15 brought a premature end to his race. A wonderful weekend for Gasly went unrewarded, whilst Ocon effectively took a drive-through penalty as the team didn’t come out to service his car when pitting at the end of his first stint.
With Esteban their sole hope in the race, he came home a lap down in P17. With Haas scoring P8 with Hülkenberg, it means they’ve lost P6 in the standings at the very first opportunity and only sit three points above VCARB.
Expecting a grid penalty for the next race the team will need to dig deep to score points to end a largely difficult season on a high.
Sergio Pérez – Qualifying: 16th | Race: 10th
Free Practice made for grim reading for Red Bull as both cars languished inside the bottom five in both sessions. Whilst Max recovered to a row 3 start, teammate Pérez was knocked out in Q1 for the fourth time this season.
The race saw another recovery drive to the points and do have to credit his double overtake on Liam Lawson and Kevin Magnussen into turn 14, but finishing behind a Haas and barely ahead of the sister team is far from ideal.
For the team’s seemingly bulletproof start to 2024, the end of the season can’t come soon for the team, especially for Sergio whose future is growing increasingly uncertain at Red Bull.
Dishonourable mention goes to Oscar Piastri, a five-second penalty for being out of position on the grid was a costly mistake as he had to recover up the grid from his first pit stop.
He may have ended up less than 10 seconds behind teammate Norris but the Brit stopped three times and was at least in a position to fight with the Ferraris and Max ahead. Not for the first time since the summer break, Piastri went anonymous throughout the weekend.
Up next for the paddock is the Qatar Grand Prix. With the Driver’s title sealed all eyes turn to McLaren vs Ferrari for the Constructor’s honours. The Losail Circuit hosts its third race and will also see the final Sprint race of the season.
Tune in from 5:30 pm UK time on Friday 29th November for the shootout, 2 pm and 6 pm respectively are the important start times for Saturday’s Sprint and Qualifying whilst the penultimate race of the 2024 season is scheduled to start at4 pm Sunday 1st December.
