F1 Las Vegas GP LIVE: Qualifying start time and schedule as Lewis Hamilton eyes pole position
F1 live updates from Las Vegas on a weekend where Max Verstappen could claim the drivers’ world title
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Your support makes all the difference.F1 next heads to the famous Sin City strip for the second edition of the Las Vegas Grand Prix and round 22 of the 2024 season.
Max Verstappen is on the cusp of a fourth successive world championship after his masterful drive in the wet at the last race in Brazil. With a 62-point advantage over Lando Norris with three races remaining, the Dutchman can clinch the title in Vegas if he finishes above the McLaren driver.
Lewis Hamilton will be eyeing a strong showing after a weekend to forget in Sao Paulo, as his time as a Mercedes driver nears its end before his 2025 move to Ferrari.
Verstappen won last year’s inaugural race in Vegas, when Charles Leclerc claimed second place on the last lap with an overtake on Sergio Perez.
Follow live updates from the Las Vegas Grand Prix:
F1 Las Vegas GP LIVE: Final laps now!
Most of the cars on medium tyres again now, as the cars try and get in tune during race conditions in race sim.
Final few minutes now...
F1 Las Vegas GP LIVE: Lewis Hamilton fastest now
Albon’s Williams has been quickly wheeled away and Hamilton - fastest in FP1 - is now P1!
Lando Norris is jut 0.011 secs behind in second, with George Russell in third.
4-10: Sainz, Leclerc, Gasly, Magnussen, Piastri, Hulkenberg, Tsunoda
F1 Las Vegas GP LIVE: RED FLAG!
Alex Albon has stopped at turn 5!
No signs of a crash but the Williams car did have a fuel issue a few minutes ago, so perhaps it’s that?!
RED FLAG! Albon’s stricken Williams will need to be removed, with 20 minutes to go in FP2!
F1 Las Vegas GP LIVE: Russell still quickest!
But this time Russell is on soft tyres and remains on top! He’s a tenth faster than Carlos Sainz in second, with Lewis Hamilton in third.
4-10: Leclerc, Piastri, Hulkenberg, Gasly Bottas, Ocon
Norris and Verstappen yet to set a time on softs. 30 minutes left!
F1 Las Vegas GP LIVE: FP2!
F1 Las Vegas GP LIVE: George Russell fastest early on
The Mercedes driver top of the timesheet early on with a 1:34:479.
Lando Norris is second, with Charles Leclerc in third. They’re all on mediums for the time being - and a lot of them are struggling for grip in these 8C temperatures!
45 mins to go...
F1 Las Vegas GP LIVE: George Russell on team radio
“This helmet has max venting so I’ve got a lot of cold air going into my face.”
Not ideal early on!
F1 Las Vegas GP LIVE: FP2 underway!
With temperatures dropping and grip dropping in the process at 10pm local time, we’re underway with FP2 in Vegas!
The Alpine pairing of Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon are straight out on track.
Lewis Hamilton bounces back to lead British dominance in Las Vegas
Lewis Hamilton bounced back from his Brazil horror show to lead a British one-two-three in opening practice for the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
Having said he wanted to quit Mercedes in the aftermath of his disappointing 10th-placed finish in Interlagos a fortnight ago, Hamilton saw off team-mate George Russell by 0.396 seconds on the Strip.
Lando Norris, who must take at least three points out of Max Verstappen’s 62-point championship lead to extend the title battle to the penultimate race in Qatar, was third, nearly one second back.
Lewis Hamilton bounces back to lead British dominance in Las Vegas
Hamilton topped the opening practice times after saying he wanted to quit Mercedes following Brazil
How can Max Verstappen win the 2024 title?
There are now just 86 points available across the next three races in Vegas, Qatar (including the final sprint race of the season) and Abu Dhabi.
By the end of the weekend in Vegas, there will be just 60 points left to claim.
That means that if Verstappen simply finishes above Norris in Vegas, he will be crowned the 2024 champion. The Dutchman would also seal the title if both drivers fail to score a point.
Verstappen will also win the 2024 title if Norris does not outscore the Red Bull driver by more than two points.
As a result, Verstappen will be world champion in Sin City if:
- If Norris is second and he finishes third with the fastest lap
- If Norris is third and he finishes fourth with the fastest lap
- If Norris is fourth without the fastest lap and he finishes fifth
- If Norris is fifth without the fastest lap and he finishes sixth
- If Norris is sixth without the fastest lap and he finishes seventh
- If Norris is seventh without the fastest lap and he finishes eighth
- If Norris is eighth without the fastest lap and he finishes ninth
- If Norris is ninth without the fastest lap or lower irrespective of where he he finishes
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