FACTS AND STATS: Verstappen can win the drivers' title in Las Vegas if he and Norris finish in their qualifying positions

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Sean Kelly
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George Russell grabbed a sensational pole position in Las Vegas, the Mercedes seemingly coming alive in the cooler evening conditions. But there were plenty of squabbles behind, with Ferrari managing to out-qualify their McLaren rivals, while Max Verstappen starts ahead of Lando Norris. Here are the best facts and stats from the Vegas Strip…

  • Russell has three poles this year – Canada, Britan and now Las Vegas. This was his fourth career pole position.

  • Carlos Sainz qualified second for the second year in a row here, although last year he did serve a 10-place grid drop. He’s missed out on pole here twice by a combined total of 0.142s.

READ MORE: Russell charges to pole for Las Vegas Grand Prix over Sainz and Gasly

  • This is the Spaniard’s second front row start in the last three races, after he won from pole in Mexico City.

  • Pierre Gasly was third, after Esteban Ocon started fourth in Sao Paulo. Gasly only has one other career top-three start, back at Qatar in 2021 but he did start fourth here last year.

  • Charles Leclerc was fourth, but his last two race victories came from P4 on the grid in both Monza and Austin.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - NOVEMBER 22: Pole position qualifier George Russell of Great Britain and

Russell claimed his first pole since Silverstone in Las Vegas

  • Max Verstappen was fifth, Lando Norris was sixth – Verstappen will win the championship if they finish in those positions.

  • The Dutchman won in Brazil from P17 on the grid, and while he has won from 10 different grid positions, he has never won from fifth.

  • Norris is starting outside the top three for just the third time in the last 14 races. He’s never won from outside the top five on the grid.

READ MORE: 'We’ve got a fundamental issue' – Perez bemoans lack of grip in Las Vegas after sixth Q1 exit of 2024

  • Yuki Tsunoda was seventh, having started third in Sao Paulo.

  • Oscar Piastri starts eighth, having been out-qualified by his team mate for the fifth straight race.

  • Nico Hulkenberg bagged his 10th Q3 appearance of the season for Haas.

  • Lewis Hamilton was 10th, but would have been in the top three if he had managed to repeat his Q2 lap time.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - NOVEMBER 22: Third placed qualifier Pierre Gasly of France and Alpine F1

Gasly backed up his Sao Paulo podium with a top three grid slot in Vegas

  • Kevin Magnussen had reached Q3 at his last two race appearances, but had to settle for P12 in Vegas after making the top 10 shootout here last year.

  • Zhou Guanyu bagged his best qualifying of the year in 13th with his first Q2 since Silverstone.

  • France Colapinto managed to out-qualify Alex Albon for the second time since joining Williams.

  • Sergio Perez suffered his sixth Q1 elimination of the season with P16, having finished on the podium here last season.

MUST-SEE: Colapinto suffers massive crash in Las Vegas qualifying

  • Fernando Alonso managed his first Q1 elimination since Monaco in May.

  • Alex Albon was knocked out in Q1 for the fourth time this season. He starts 18th, having been in the top 10 here in qualifying last year.

  • Valtteri Bottas was out-qualified by his team mate for just the second time this season, but the Finn does have a five-place grid drop for the Grand Prix here.

  • Lance Stroll was only able to complete one flying lap after a mechanical problem in FP3 curtailed his running, and props up the field.

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