The 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix delivered high-stakes drama under the neon lights, solidifying its place as one of the season’s most memorable races. George Russell of Mercedes emerged victorious, leading a dominant one-two finish with teammate Lewis Hamilton. This marked Russell’s fourth career win and highlighted Mercedes’ resurgence after a challenging season. Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz rounded out the podium in third, despite frustrations over missed opportunities.
The race saw tensions flare between Sainz and teammate Charles Leclerc as they fought for position on track. Sainz, who started ahead, defended aggressively, frustrating Leclerc and raising questions about team orders. Despite their intra-team battle, Sainz clinched third, while Leclerc finished just off the podium in fourth.Sainz expressed frustration after the race, feeling Ferrari’s strategies didn’t optimize his race. Leclerc, on the other hand, felt he had the pace to challenge for a podium but was held back by the infighting, stating “Being nice always f**** me over”, when Carlos overtook him, disregarding direct orders from the team principal.
Meanwhile, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen clinched his fourth consecutive world championship by finishing fifth. His performance sealed his status among Formula 1 legends, joining the ranks of Alain Prost and Sebastian Vettel with four titles. Verstappen attributed his success to consistency and teamwork, even in a challenging season.
The race, also. underscored the variability in performance with Mercedes excelling in the cooler Vegas climate. Looking ahead, the battle for the constructors’ title remains intense with Ferrari l chasing leaders McLaren in the standings.
