George Russell overjoyed with ‘dream of a weekend’ after claiming first Mercedes pole and win in four months

George Russell expressed his delight and satisfaction after converting pole position into victory with a dominant performance during Saturday night’s Las Vegas Grand Prix.

Russell got away well off the line to hold the lead into Turn 1 and, after fending off an attack from the fast-starting Ferrari rival Charles Leclerc, took control of the 50-lap encounter.

A strong recovery from team mate Lewis Hamilton, who lined up back in 10th, meant Russell was kept on his toes in the closing laps, but he nonetheless had several seconds in hand when the chequered flag dropped.

2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix: Russell holds the lead as Leclerc jumps from fourth to P2 on the race start

Russell’s pole was the first for himself and Mercedes since the British Grand Prix, while his win marks the team’s first since the Belgian Grand Prix – both events held some four months ago in July.

Asked to reflect on his win, and how he intends to celebrate, Russell smiled: “I was planning to fly in a couple of hours but I’m definitely not getting on that flight! I’m going to enjoy this evening with all my team.

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“It’s been a dream of a weekend. I don’t know how we’ve been so quick but I’m just riding this wave right now. To get the victory here, pole position, a dominant weekend, one-two with Lewis as well… We couldn’t have chosen a better place to make this happen.”

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - NOVEMBER 23: Race winner George Russell of Great Britain and Mercedes — Russell delivered a cool, calm and collected drive under the Las Vegas lights

Russell added that he was nervous of any drama behind – and a potential Safety Car – scuppering his route to victory, with the Briton relieved to make it to the finish unscathed and bag the valuable win.

“I was just waiting for something to happen,” he commented. “The two races I’ve been on pole before, there’s always been chaos, rain, drying, always something happening…

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“I was like, ‘I feel confident here, I’ve got a good gap’, but I was just waiting for something to happen and it didn’t. I guess our luck has turned and I’m just so, so happy right now.”