Russell makes his mark in wet-dry Las Vegas FP3

Las Vegas Grand Prix: Russell Tops Final Practice Amid Mixed Conditions

In a challenging final practice session for the Las Vegas Grand Prix, George Russell outpaced reigning champion Max Verstappen, clocking a best time of 1m34.054s. The session was marked by a mix of wet and dry conditions, as drivers navigated a damp track from earlier rain.

The session began under wet conditions, with drivers initially opting for intermediate tires. Despite the tricky surface, Russell’s performance saw him emerge as the fastest, managing to find grip while others struggled with tire warm-up, particularly McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, who finished 19th and 20th due to technical issues preventing sufficient track time.

Midway through the session, Lando Norris transitioned to slicks, an audacious move influenced by the team’s radar predicting imminent rain. However, his lap was cut short when he lost control and went off track. Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton’s attempt to improve his time was thwarted by traffic, as he was forced off the track during a flying lap.

As the weather improved, many drivers switched to fresh soft tires for a final push. Russell, the last driver to set his time, edged Verstappen by 0.227s, who was hindered by slower cars on his final lap.

Alex Albon of Williams secured third place, 0.821s off Russell. The conditions created a significant spread amongst the field, with Isack Hadjar, Hamilton, and Kimi Antonelli rounding out the top six.

McLaren’s difficulties continued, with both Norris and Piastri unable to leverage their slick runs, facing further challenges with pit lane issues—Norris due to battery problems and Piastri stuck with telemetry errors.

The session culminated in a rapidly changing landscape, showcasing the thin line between success and failure under unpredictable conditions. Oliver Bearman led a mid-field pack, emphasizing the race’s chaotic nature: “It really doesn’t take a lot of rain to complicate things.”