Las Vegas 2024 marked Mercedes' triumphant return to the top of Formula 1, evoking memories of the team’s golden days. After two challenging years since the São Paulo 2022 double victory, Toto Wolff can finally celebrate a comprehensive success thanks to George Russell's extraordinary performance. Starting from pole position, the British driver dominated the second edition of the Nevada race, facing only one moment of tension early on when Charles Leclerc, launching aggressively from fourth place, attempted a bold attack in the opening laps. Russell, however, defended skillfully, capitalizing on Leclerc's struggles as the Monegasque pushed too hard and compromised his tires.
Mercedes shone throughout the weekend, leading every session from free practice onward. The low track temperatures in Las Vegas played a pivotal role, perfectly complementing the W15's characteristics. For Russell, this marks his third career victory after São Paulo 2022 and Spielberg 2024, while for Mercedes, it is their fourth triumph of the season, adding to Lewis Hamilton's wins at Silverstone and Spa. The seven-time world champion contributed to this 1-2 finish with a remarkable comeback. Starting from tenth place, Hamilton expertly managed a series of duels, overtaking key rivals like Oscar Piastri, Yuki Tsunoda, Nico Hulkenberg, and Kevin Magnussen. With an impressive race pace, he reeled in both Ferraris and then Max Verstappen's Red Bull, pushing hard to chase down Russell. A small error at Turn 1 ended his pursuit, but the second-place finish remains a standout performance, redeeming his qualifying struggles.
Ferrari also played a major role in Las Vegas, though internal team dynamics left lingering tension. At the start, Charles Leclerc surprised everyone with a brilliant launch, gaining positions and even challenging Russell for the lead. However, his pace fluctuated, with tire management becoming a critical factor. Carlos Sainz, after a more cautious start, experienced sudden tire degradation in the first stint, prompting him to request an earlier pit stop. The Ferrari pit wall’s delayed response cost him valuable time and further complicated his race.
The most tense moment came late in the race when Leclerc pitted for fresh tires, rejoining just ahead of Sainz. The Spaniard, with his tires already up to temperature, seized the opportunity to overtake his teammate for fourth place. This move sparked frustration from Leclerc, who criticized Sainz's actions over the radio and in post-race interviews. Sainz, in turn, downplayed the incident, emphasizing his preference for performance over "media theatrics." Despite the drama, Ferrari secured a crucial third and fourth place, earning 27 points and closing the gap to McLaren in the constructors' standings. With two races and the Losail Sprint remaining, the Italian team now trails the Woking squad by just 24 points.
Max Verstappen approached the race with a single, clear objective: securing the world championship. Despite briefly holding second place, the Dutchman avoided unnecessary battles, yielding positions first to Hamilton and later to the Ferraris. With his fourth title now confirmed, Verstappen took a conservative approach, ensuring he crossed the finish line safely. His strategy reflects Red Bull's two-sided season: dominant in the first ten races but more vulnerable in the latter half, particularly following Adrian Newey’s departure. Nevertheless, the team saw a fighting performance from Sergio Perez, who rebounded from a disastrous Q1 to claim tenth place. Perez’s race was highlighted by a double overtake on Liam Lawson and Kevin Magnussen, though his result remains underwhelming compared to his teammate.
McLaren-Mercedes endured a weekend to forget, resembling their struggles from the start of the season. The Woking team never found competitiveness on the Las Vegas circuit. Lando Norris, forced to concede early in qualifying, posed no threat to Verstappen and settled for sixth place. Oscar Piastri’s seventh-place finish, marred by a five-second penalty for a jump start, did little to improve the team’s outlook.
One of the standout performances came from Nico Hulkenberg. The experienced German driver secured eighth place for Haas, converting his strong qualifying result into valuable points. This finish allows Haas to overtake Alpine in the constructors' standings, climbing to sixth. For Alpine, it was a weekend to forget: Pierre Gasly retired early due to an engine failure, while Esteban Ocon lost significant time after missing his pit stop location and being forced to complete another lap before pitting.
Yuki Tsunoda delivered another solid performance for Racing Bulls-Honda, finishing ninth and thoroughly outpacing Liam Lawson in both qualifying and the race. The Faenza-based team continues to fight for points, having finished in the top ten in 12 out of 22 races. They remain locked in a tight battle for seventh place in the constructors' standings.
Meanwhile, Aston Martin, Sauber, and Williams left Las Vegas empty-handed. Guan Yu Zhou delivered a commendable performance for Sauber, while Alexander Albon was forced to retire with a technical issue. Franco Colapinto, still reeling from a qualifying crash, was instructed to prioritize finishing the race without further incidents.
Las Vegas delivered a thrilling spectacle, with Mercedes reclaiming dominance and Ferrari showcasing competitive pace despite lingering internal tensions. As the championship nears its conclusion, the fight for the constructors' title and the battle for top honors remain wide open.
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