Charles Leclerc can hope for the Formula 1 jackpot in Las Vegas. The Ferrari driver secured his first pole position since returning to the gambling metropolis and, in cool temperatures, even left Max Verstappen in the Red Bull, who had long been established as world champion, behind him.
“It’s a great first place. Hopefully we can get everything together in the race because we’re usually worse there,” said Leclerc in a red Ferrari hoodie over his racing overalls after his fifth pole position this season and the 23rd of his career overall .
Tire management will be the focus
On the new but monotonous street circuit with fresh asphalt, the focus will be on tire management in the penultimate Grand Prix of the year on Sunday (7 a.m. CET/Sky) – and Verstappen has mastered that much better than his rivals this season. “We are optimistic for the race,” said Red Bull motorsport consultant Helmut Marko. After converting Verstappen’s car overnight, the already strong Red Bull also increased its top speed.
“Of course I would have liked to have had more speed today,” admitted Verstappen on the brightly lit floodlit track. “I hope we can handle the tires well tomorrow.” The so-called graining, essentially tire wear, will play a significant role on the new route along the luxury hotels.
Carlos Sainz is transferred as a penalty
Mercedes driver George Russell will start behind Leclerc and Verstappen. Like the world champion from the Netherlands, he benefited from a grid penalty against Carlos Sainz in the second Ferrari. The Spaniard had damaged his car during the opening practice session the day before when it came into contact with the defective cover of a water shaft and had to park it prematurely. Due to an illegal conversion, he has to start from twelfth position instead of second. “I would really like to fight for victory with Charles and Max, but I have a comeback race ahead of me first,” said Sainz.
Lewis Hamilton also has to fight his way forward. The Mercedes driver only starts from tenth place. “Not so great,” was his conclusion, the Englishman admitted. “The third training session was pretty poor.” Things didn’t get much better in qualifying. “I had problems with the grip, it just didn’t work for me,” said Hamilton angrily.
Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff is angry
After a disappointing eighth place in Brazil two weeks ago, the next frustrating Grand Prix is looming. “We have to find a solution that means it’s about driving fast and not messing around,” said Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff against his own stubborn car. They are also “too stupid” to exploit the competition’s weaknesses.
Nico Hülkenberg missed the final knockout round of the fastest ten drivers in the Haas for the sixth time in a row and starts the Glitter Grand Prix in 13th place. “We’ve been lacking performance all weekend,” Hülkenberg noted, unsurprisingly. He was even “at war with the first sector on the 6.201 kilometer long course. It wasn’t the best.”
Ferrari team boss is also confident
The signs could be red for Leclerc, who has not been able to convert any of his four pole positions so far this season into a Grand Prix victory. “We can be positive,” said Ferrari team boss Frederic Vasseur about the Scuderia’s prospects in the race. 41 years after the last Grand Prix in Las Vegas, Verstappen wants to cloud this from the start.
