George Russell remains cautious about Mercedes’ potential at the upcoming Las Vegas Grand Prix despite teammate Kimi Antonelli’s impressive performance in Free Practice. Russell, who won the race last year, ended this session in seventh place, clocking a time 0.435 seconds behind Lando Norris, the fastest driver of the day.
Las Vegas Free Practice Highlights
Antonelli finished second, just 0.029 seconds off Norris’ best time of 1 minute 33.602 seconds. However, both drivers struggled to perform a complete qualifying simulation due to red flags disrupting the session.
Russell’s Assessment
Russell acknowledged the challenges, stating, “It wasn’t bad, I think we’re in the mix, but I think we have to be realistic.” He emphasized that expectations were high, but significant changes made to the car since last year might have affected performance. Russell noted, “It’s definitely made it a better car over the course of the season but maybe hasn’t made it as competitive here as we were 12 months ago.”
Key Competitors
- Lando Norris (McLaren)
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
Despite lower expectations, Russell remains hopeful about the team’s competitiveness, especially given the close times set by his rivals. He described the qualifying situation as tight, with notable performances from drivers like Norris, Verstappen, and Leclerc.
Strategy Considerations for Qualifying
Reflecting on the 2022 race, Russell’s strategy of crossing the line last to take advantage of track evolution secured him pole position. Antonelli echoed this tactic, noting the “incredible” level of track development throughout the day. He stated, “For sure, the evolution is big during the session, so probably in Qualifying, it is one of those sessions where you want to be last.”
However, Antonelli also recognized the risks associated with red flags during qualifying, suggesting a need for balance in strategy.
Looking Ahead to Qualifying
As the team prepares for qualifying, the drivers will closely monitor track conditions. If improvement plateaus before Q3, they might reconsider the strategy of going last. The Las Vegas Grand Prix promises to be a competitive event with many factors at play.
