2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix Explained

Type:F1
Grand Prix:Las Vegas
Previous Round:2024 São Paulo Grand Prix
Next Round:2024 Qatar Grand Prix
Details Ref:[1] [2]
Fulldate:November 23, 2024
Year:2024
Official Name:Formula 1 Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
Race No:22
Season No:24
Location:Las Vegas Strip Circuit
Paradise, Nevada, United States
Course:Street circuit
Course Km:6.201
Course Mi:3.853
Distance Laps:50
Distance Km:309.958
Distance Mi:192.599
Attendance:306,000[3]
Weather:Clear
Pole Driver:George Russell
Pole Country:GBR
Pole Team:Mercedes
Pole Time:1:32.312
Fast Country:GBR
Fast Team:McLaren-Mercedes
Fast Time:1:34.876
Fast Lap:50
First Country:GBR
First Team:Mercedes
Second Country:GBR
Third Country:ESP
Third Team:Ferrari

The 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix (officially known as the Formula 1 Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024) was a Formula One motor race held on November 23, 2024, at the Las Vegas Strip Circuit in Paradise, Nevada, United States. It was the twenty-second round of the 2024 Formula One World Championship.

George Russell of Mercedes took pole position for the race, which he went on to win ahead of teammate Lewis Hamilton, with Carlos Sainz Jr. of Ferrari completing the podium. Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing finished fifth, securing his fourth consecutive World Drivers' Championship. Mercedes achieved their 60th one-two finish, their first since the 2022 São Paulo Grand Prix.

Background

The event was held at the Las Vegas Strip Circuit in Paradise, Nevada, for the second time in the circuit's history, across the weekend of November 21–23.[4] The Grand Prix was the twenty-second round of the 2024 Formula One World Championship and the second running of the Las Vegas Grand Prix.[5]

Championship standings before the race

Going into the weekend, Max Verstappen led the Drivers' Championship with 393 points, 62 points ahead of Lando Norris in second, and 86 ahead of Charles Leclerc in third. McLaren, holding 593 points, entered this round as the leader of the Constructors' Championship from Ferrari and Red Bull Racing, who were second and third with 557 and 544 points, respectively.[6]

Championship permutations

World Drivers' Championship leader Max Verstappen had an opportunity to secure his fourth consecutive title at this event. At the conclusion of the Las Vegas Grand Prix, there would have been two races left in the 2024 Formula One World Championship. With the following Qatar Grand Prix featuring the sprint format, 60 points would have been available in the final two rounds of the Drivers' Championship. Lando Norris would therefore have had to outscore Verstappen by at least three points to retain a mathematical chance of winning the title.[7]

Verstappen would have been World Champion if:

If none of these criteria had met, Norris would have retained a mathematical chance of winning the title.[8]

Entrants

The drivers and teams were the same as the season entry list with two exceptions:[9] Franco Colapinto, who replaced Logan Sargeant at Williams from the Italian Grand Prix onwards, and Liam Lawson, who replaced Daniel Ricciardo at RB from the United States Grand Prix.[10] [11] [12]

Tyre choices

Tyre supplier Pirelli brought the C3, C4, and C5 tyre compounds (the softest three in their range) designated hard, medium, and soft, respectively, for teams to use at the event.[13]

Practice

Three free practice sessions were held for the event. The first free practice session was held on November 21, 2024, at 18:30 local time (UTC–8),[1] and was topped by Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes ahead of his teammate George Russell and Lando Norris of McLaren.[14] The second free practice session was held on the same day, at 22:00 local time, and was topped by Hamilton ahead of Norris and Russell.[15] The third practice session was held on November 22, 2024, at 18:30 local time, and was topped by Russell ahead of Oscar Piastri of McLaren and Carlos Sainz Jr. of Ferrari.[16]

Qualifying

Qualifying was held on November 22, 2024, at 22:00 local time (UTC−8).[1]

Qualifying classification

DriverConstructor
Q1Q2Q3
163data-sort-value="RUS" George RussellMercedes1:33.1861:32.7791:32.3121
255data-sort-value="SAI" Carlos Sainz Jr.Ferrari1:33.4841:32.7111:32.4102
310data-sort-value="GAS" Pierre GaslyAlpine-Renault1:33.6911:32.8791:32.6643
416data-sort-value="LEC" Charles LeclercFerrari1:33.4461:33.0161:32.7834
51data-sort-value="VER" Max VerstappenRed Bull Racing-Honda RBPT1:33.2991:33.0851:32.7975
64data-sort-value="NOR" Lando NorrisMcLaren-Mercedes1:33.5921:33.0991:33.0086
722data-sort-value="TSU" Yuki TsunodaRB-Honda RBPT1:33.7891:33.0891:33.0297
881data-sort-value="PIA" Oscar PiastriMcLaren-Mercedes1:33.4501:33.0241:33.0338
927data-sort-value="HUL" Nico HülkenbergHaas-Ferrari1:33.9201:33.1141:33.0629
1044data-sort-value="HAM" Lewis HamiltonMercedes1:33.2251:32.5671:48.10610
1131data-sort-value="OCO" Esteban OconAlpine-Renault1:33.9681:33.221N/A11
1220data-sort-value="MAG"Haas-Ferrari1:33.9911:33.297N/A12
1324data-sort-value="ZHO" Zhou GuanyuKick Sauber-Ferrari1:34.0791:33.566N/A13
1443data-sort-value="COL"Williams-Mercedes1:33.7461:33.749N/Adata-sort-value="20" align="center"
1530data-sort-value="LAW" Liam LawsonnowrapRB-Honda RBPT1:34.0871:34.257N/A14
1611data-sort-value="PER" Sergio PérezRed Bull Racing-Honda RBPT1:34.155N/AN/A15
1714data-sort-value="ALO" Fernando Alonso1:34.258N/AN/A16
1823data-sort-value="ALB" Alexander AlbonWilliams-Mercedes1:34.425N/AN/A17
1977data-sort-value="BOT" Valtteri BottasKick Sauber-Ferrari1:34.430N/AN/Adata-sort-value="19" align="center" 19
2018data-sort-value="STR" Lance StrollAston Martin Aramco-Mercedes1:34.484N/AN/A18
107% time

1:39.709

Source:[17] [18]
Notes

Race

The race was held on November 23, 2024, at 22:00 local time (UTC−8), and was run for 50 laps.[1]

Race report

At the start George Russell made a clean getaway to hold the lead into turn 1. Further back, Charles Leclerc passed Carlos Sainz Jr. and Pierre Gasly for second place while Kevin Magnussen and Liam Lawson fought hard for 13th place. On lap 8, Max Verstappen passed Leclerc, whose tires were graining. The next lap, Leclerc made a pit stop for hard tyres, and rejoined in 16th. On lap 10, Sainz made a pit stop and rejoined in 12th. By lap 14, both Ferraris of Leclerc and Sainz had recovered, and Sainz and Leclerc were fourth and fifth, respectively.[20] Pierre Gasly had initially lost ground and dropped off from his third place start, but still had the ability to recover, before the engine failed with smoke emitting from his car, forcing him to retire on lap 15.[21] [22] Alexander Albon, who at one point had gone up to 10th, later suffered a cooling issue, forcing him to retire.[23] On lap 17, Sergio Pérez was overtaken by both Ferraris, dropping to fifth. On lap 26, Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton made pit stops, and Leclerc passed them to go into second.

On lap 27, the race was led by George Russell, followed by Verstappen, Sainz, Leclerc, and Lewis Hamilton. Sainz let Leclerc by, before Ferrari instructed Sainz to pit for hard tyres. Sainz was told to stay out right before the pit stop, so he skipped over the pit entry apron and went back onto the track. He lost time in pit entry that he claimed could have been used to keep ahead of Hamilton, who eventually passed both Sainz and Leclerc. He was not penalised for crossing the pit entry line and he rejoined in sixth.[24] On lap 30, Lando Norris made a pit stop, and Sainz moved up to fifth. The next lap Leclerc made a pit stop for another set of hard tyres, and rejoined in fifth, now behind Sainz. On lap 41, Verstappen passed Sainz for third. On lap 46, Sainz passed Verstappen for fourth. The race ended with Russell winning, followed by Hamilton, Sainz, and Leclerc. Verstappen, in fifth, clinched his fourth consecutive title, finishing ahead of Norris. Coincidentally, this is the third time that the driver's title was decided in Las Vegas, having been previously settled there in 1981 and 1982 in favour of Nelson Piquet and Keke Rosberg, respectively.

Race classification

DriverConstructorTime/RetiredPoints
163data-sort-value="RUS" George RussellMercedes501:22:05.969125
244data-sort-value="HAM" Lewis HamiltonMercedes50+7.3131018
355data-sort-value="SAI" Carlos Sainz Jr.Ferrari50+11.906215
416data-sort-value="LEC" Charles LeclercFerrari50+14.283412
51data-sort-value="VER" Max VerstappenRed Bull Racing-Honda RBPT50+16.582510
64data-sort-value="NOR" Lando NorrisMcLaren-Mercedes50+43.38569
781data-sort-value="PIA" Oscar PiastriMcLaren-Mercedes50+51.36586
827data-sort-value="HUL" Nico HülkenbergHaas-Ferrari50+59.80894
922data-sort-value="TSU" Yuki TsunodaRB-Honda RBPT50+1:02.80872
1011data-sort-value="PER" Sergio PérezRed Bull Racing-Honda RBPT50+1:03.114151
1114data-sort-value="ALO" Fernando Alonso50+1:09.19516
1220data-sort-value="MAG"Haas-Ferrari50+1:09.80312
1324data-sort-value="ZHO" Zhou GuanyuKick Sauber-Ferrari50+1:14.08513
1443data-sort-value="COL"Williams-Mercedes50+1:15.172
1518data-sort-value="STR" Lance StrollAston Martin Aramco-Mercedes50+1:24.10218
1630data-sort-value="LAW" Liam LawsonnowrapRB-Honda RBPT50+1:31.00514
1731data-sort-value="OCO" Esteban OconAlpine-Renault49+1 lap11
1877data-sort-value="BOT" Valtteri BottasKick Sauber-Ferrari49+1 lap19
23data-sort-value="ALB" Alexander AlbonWilliams-Mercedes25Radiator17
10data-sort-value="GAS" Pierre GaslyAlpine-Renault15Engine3
Fastest lap

Lando Norris (McLaren-Mercedes) – 1:34.876 (lap 50)

Source:[25] [26] [27]
Notes

Championship standings after the race

Drivers' Championship standings
DriverPoints
1 Max Verstappen*403
2 Lando Norris340
3 Charles Leclerc319
4 Oscar Piastri268
5 Carlos Sainz Jr.259
Source:[28]
Constructors' Championship standings
ConstructorPoints
1 McLaren-Mercedes608
2 Ferrari584
3 Red Bull Racing-Honda RBPT555
4 Mercedes425
586
Source:

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024 – F1 Race. Formula 1. November 3, 2024.
  2. Web site: Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024 – Circuit. Formula 1. November 10, 2024.
  3. Web site: 306,000 Attend the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix Weekend. F1 Destinations. 24 November 2024. 24 November 2024.
  4. Web site: Las Vegas . StatsF1.com . 3 November 2024.
  5. Web site: Grands Prix Las Vegas. StatsF1.com . 3 November 2024.
  6. Web site: São Paulo 2024 – Championship. Stats F1. 3 November 2024. 3 November 2024.
  7. Web site: Mann-Bryans . Mark . 2024-11-04 . How Verstappen can seal a fourth F1 title in Las Vegas . 2024-11-05 . Motorsport.com .
  8. Web site: F1 title permutations: How Max Verstappen can clinch 2024 championship at Las Vegas GP vs Lando Norris. Sky Sport. 6 November 2024. 6 November 2024.
  9. Web site: 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix – Entry List. . 21 November 2024 . 21 November 2024.
  10. Web site: Williams Racing announces that Franco Colapinto will race with the team for the remainder of the 2024 FIA Formula 1 World Championship season. 27 August 2024. 27 August 2024. Williams Racing. en.
  11. Web site: 26 September 2024 . 26 September 2024 . Ricciardo to leave RB with immediate effect as team get set for mid-season driver . Formula 1.com.
  12. Web site: Lawson to replace Ricciardo at RB for remainder of the season. Formula 1.com. 26 September 2024. 26 September 2024.
  13. Web site: All compounds on track to end the season. Pirelli.com. October 31, 2024. October 31, 2024.
  14. Web site: FP1: Hamilton leads Mercedes 1–2 during first practice in Las Vegas. Formula 1.com. 22 November 2024. 22 November 2024.
  15. Web site: FP2: Hamilton keeps Mercedes on top in second Las Vegas GP practice. Formula 1.com. 22 November 2024. 22 November 2024.
  16. Web site: FP3: Russell leads Piastri and Sainz in final Las Vegas GP practice. Formula 1.com. 23 November 2024. 23 November 2024.
  17. Web site: Formula 1 Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024 – Qualifying. Formula 1. November 22, 2024. November 22, 2024.
  18. Web site: Formula 1 Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024 – Starting Grid. Formula 1. November 22, 2024. November 22, 2024.
  19. Web site: Bottas hit with five-place grid penalty for Las Vegas Grand Prix. Formula 1.com. November 22, 2024. November 22, 2024.
  20. Web site: Race recap: Carlos third, Charles fourth . 2024-11-24 . Ferrari.com . en.
  21. Web site: Gasly says Las Vegas retirement 'a tough one to take' . 2024-11-24 . Formula 1.com . en.
  22. Web site: 2024-11-24 . Las Vegas Grand Prix: Why Did Pierre Gasly Retire? . 2024-11-24 . F1 On SI . en-US.
  23. Web site: 2024-11-24 . Williams F1 Team Reveals Why Alex Albon Retired from Las Vegas Grand Prix . 2024-11-24 . F1 On SI . en-US.
  24. Web site: Sainz explains bizarre Ferrari pit lane incident in Vegas . 2024-11-24 . Formula 1.com . en.
  25. Web site: Formula 1 Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024 – Race Result. Formula 1. November 23, 2024. November 23, 2024.
  26. Web site: Formula 1 Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024 – Fastest Laps. Formula 1. November 23, 2024. November 23, 2024.
  27. Web site: Las Vegas 2024 – Result . 24 November 2024 . Stats F1.
  28. Web site: Las Vegas 2024 – Championship. Stats F1. 24 November 2024. 24 November 2024.