Race Notes - Russell wins, Verstappen take title

By Mark Karp

George Russell dominated the Las Vegas Grand Prix in his Mercedes GP to win, his team mate Lewis Hamilton, coming from tenth on the grid finished second, 7.313 seconds behind.Carlos Sainz in the Ferrari finished third, 11.506 seconds behind the winner.

The win is Russell’s third career victory.

Verstappen is the sixth driver to reach four Drivers World Championships titles.

Charles Leclerc (14.283s) in the second Ferrari finished in fourth place.

Max Verstappen (16.582s) by finishing fifth, ahead of his title rival Lando Norris, clinched his fourth Drivers World Championship, followed by Norris (43.385s) in the McLaren-Mercedes finished sixth, his team mate Oscar Piastri (51.365s) was seventh, Nico Hulkenberg (59.808s) in the Haas-Ferrari was eighth, Yuki Tsunoda (1m02.808s) in the RB-Honda was ninth, and Sergio Perez (1m03.114s) in the second Red Bull took the final point in tenth place.

Before the start, strategy looked to be a one, or two-stop race, either medium-hard or medium-hard-hard strategy, but no-one will know how long the hard tyre will last until they are run in the race.

Russell starts on pole, with Sainz along side on row 1, Gasly and Leclerc on row 2, Vertappen and Norris on row 3, Tsunoda and Piastri on row 4 and Hulkenberg and Hamilton rounding out the tops ten.

All drivers on medium tyres except Perez, Bottas and Colipinto on hard tyres, and Alonso on soft tyres at the start.

At the appointed time the field came around on the formation lap, lined up on the grid and the lights went off and the race began with Russell getting a quick start, Leclerc getting to second, Sainz, Gasly, Vertappen, Norris, Tsunoda, Piastri, Hulkenberg and Hamilton in tenth.

On lap 3 Russell leads by 0.8 seconds, and sets fast lap at 1m39.077s.

On lap 4 Leclerc in second sets the fastest lap at 1m38.329s.

Verstappan passes Gasly for fourth. At the final corner Leclerc is challenging Russell for he lead, but Russell holds his position.

Russell sets fast lap at 1m38.136s.

Piastri is under investigation for jumping the start.

On lap 8 Sainz passes Leclerc for second place.

Hamilton challenging Piastri for eighth.

Verstappen passes Leclerc for third. Norris passes Gasly for fifth. Hamilton passes Piastri for eighth.

On lap 10 Hamilton passes Tsunoda for sixth. Leclerc and Norris pit.

Verstappen passes Sainz

Sainz. Gasly, Tsunoda and Piastri all pit, Piastri taking a 5-second penalty.

On lap 12 Verstappen pits for hard tyres and rejoins seventh.

On lap 13 Russell pits from the lead for hard tyres and rejoins second. Hamilton yet to stop takes over the lead.

On lap 14 Hamilton pits for medium tyres and rejoins ninth.

At lap 15 Russell leads over Perez, Hulkenberg, Vertappen. Sainz, Leclerc, Norris, Hamilton, Magnussen and Bottas in tenth.

On lap 15 Hulkenberg pits for hard tyres.

Gasly is calling on the radio of a loss of power and creeps to the pits and retires.

Hamilton sets fast lap at 1m37.772s, running in seventh.

On lap 17 Hamilton passes Norris for sixth. Sainz passes Perez for third. Later in the lap Leclerc passes Perez, and Hamilton is now challenging him.

Hamilton and Norris pass Perez yet to pit. Hamilton sets fast lap, and Perez pits for

On lap 19 Albon passes Alonso for ninth.

Hulkenberg passes Alonso for tenth.

At lap 20 Russell lead Verstappen by 9.6 seconds, followed by Sainz (12.2s), Leclerc. (15.0s), Hamilton (15.8s), Norris (18.1s), Tsunoda (26.8s), Piastri (28.1s), Albon (32.1s) and Hulkenberg (33.2s) in tenth place.

On lap 23, challenging Leclerc Hamilton sets fast lap at 1m37.086s.

On lap 24 Zhou passes Alonso for 11th.

On lap 25 Perez passes Lawson for 12th.

On lap 26 Piastri pits from eighth for hard tyres and rejoins 15th.

On lap 27 Hamilton sets fast lap at 1m37.055s.

On lap 28 Leclerc passes Sainz.

Verstappen pits from second for hard tyres and rejoins fifth. Hamilton pit for hard tyres and rejoins sixth.

On lap 29 Sainz pits from third for hard tyres and reloins sixth.

At lap 30 Russell leads Leclerc by 15.4 seconds, followed by Norris (26.8s), Verstappen (33.5s), Hamilton (34.5s), Sainz (38.5s), Hulkenberg (42.2s) in seveb

Ham 1m36.951

On lap 32 Leclerc pits for hard tyres and rejoins fifth, while Hamilton passes Verstappen for second place.

On lap 33 Russell pits from the lead for hard tyres and rejoins still in the lead, 12.1 seconds ahead of Hamilton.

Perez pits and rejoins in 15th place.

On lap 34 Hulkenberg pits for hard tyres and rejoins 12th.

At lap 35 Russell leads Hamilton by 10.3 seconds followed by Verstappen (13.0s), Sainz (16.1s), Leclerc (17.9s), Norris (29.3s), Piastri (39.6s), Ocon (45.2s), and Lawson (48.3s) in tenth.

Hamilton sets fast lap at 1m35.397s.

On lap 37 Leclerc sets fast lap at 1m36.285s.

At lap 38 Hamiton sets fast lap at 1n36.177 and trails Russell by 7.6 seconds.

Perez passes both Magnessen and Lawson for 12th place.

On lap 39 Leclerc sets fast lap at 1m36.079 seconds.

Sainz is closing on Verstappen in third place.

On lap 40 Hamilton sets fast lap at 1m35.880s, and trails Russell by 7.0 seconds, with 10 laps to go.

On lap 41 Leclerc sets fast lap at 1n35.674s.

Sainz and Leclerc at closing on Verstappen.

On lap 42 Sainz passes Verstappen for third.

Hamilton sets fast lap at 1m35.480s, and trails Russell by 5.8 seconds.

At lap 45 Russell leads Hamilton by 5.2 seconds, followed by Sainz (14.3s), Verstappen (15.3s), Leclerc (16.2s), Norris ( 26.8s), Piastri (46.1s), Tsunoda (57.7s), Hulkenberg *58.1s), Alonso in tenth.

On lap 46 Hulkenberg passes Tsunoda for eighth place.

On lap 47 Leclerc passes Verstappen for fourth place.

Russell leads Hamilton by 5.5 seconds.

Hamilton goes deep into the chicane, but continues.

On lap 49 Norris pits for soft tyres to go for fast lap.

At the finish line Russell wins a Mercedes 1-2 over Hamilton, and Sainz in third place.

Norris sets fast lap on the last lap at 1m34.876s.

Verstappen finishing ahead of Norris clinches his fourth World Drivers Championship.