The smooth Las Vegas circuit proved ideal for Mercedes, with George Russell claiming pole and dominating to secure a commanding win.
If Max Verstappen stole the spotlight in Las Vegas by securing his fourth world title, it was George Russell who emerged as the man of the weekend, dominating the race from start to finish after clinching pole position the day before. The Mercedes F1 driver looked back on this commanding performance with satisfaction.
“I was genuinely surprised by how strong our pace was, and I was very happy to secure pole on Saturday. Then, I think we won the race in the first stint. To be honest, that stint was exceptional. From that point, I knew the only way to lose the victory would be to overwork the tires and damage them. So it was all about managing my pace, nailing the key corners, and bringing the win home.”
After taking pole, the British driver admitted he didn’t fully understand why his W15 had been so quick on Saturday. Has he gained more insight following this victory?
“Yes, I believe so. It’s no secret we struggle on bumpy tracks where we have to raise the car significantly and soften it up. When we do that, we end up in a setup window where the car doesn’t perform well. It’s not that we’ve suddenly forgotten how to set up the car; it’s just that some circuits force us into a configuration the car doesn’t like. On smoother tracks like this, where the surface is relatively even, we can run the car low, stiff, and with minimal bumps around the circuit, and we fly.”
George Russell is now optimistic about the upcoming Grand Prix.
“I think we have a good chance in Qatar. Heading into this triple-header, I was already targeting Qatar to the extent that I considered swapping in an older engine for Vegas to save my freshest one for Qatar. But I’m glad I didn’t do that.”
One might imagine the entire Mercedes F1 team celebrating their victory in style in Las Vegas. But where did the party take place?
“I don’t know. I mean, I don’t party very often. I don’t know where I’m supposed to go, but I’ll find somewhere. I told my team I’m staying for the night.”
Russell then turned to his teammate Lewis Hamilton: “Lewis will probably have a better idea than me. So, where’s the party?”
“I have no idea!” the seven-time world champion replied.
While waiting to join the festivities, Russell did at least refrain from jumping into the fountain! That didn’t stop him from arriving drenched at the press conference following the podium celebrations.
“I really wanted to do it, but I was so cold after the race that I thought I’d end up seriously ill. Last year, around this time, I caught pneumonia and was unwell until mid-February after Vegas and Abu Dhabi. In the moment, I really wanted to do it, but I thought back to the struggles I had 12 months ago because your body takes a hit. Honestly, it’s the champagne that got me soaked.”
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Exceptional Start Hands Russell Las Vegas Glory Exceptional Start Hands Russell Las Vegas Glory
