Russell completes Mercedes hat-trick with fastest lap in Las Vegas GP FP3

Mercedes’ George Russell topped the final practice session, making it a hat-trick of fastest laps at the Las Vegas Grand Prix free practice sessions for the Brackley-based team. 

Feature image credit: Mercedes F1

After occupying a top-three position in the opening practice sessions, Russell topped the timing boards on the final hour of practice. He was guaranteed P1 as Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll brought out a red flag late when the Canadian stopped on track. 

The Aston Martin driver was forced to quickly stop out on track with a mechanical problem with his AMR24. The mechanical issue also deemed his car unsafe with the hybrid unit, forcing Stroll to jump clear of his car. 

The session finally resumed with just over a minute left on the clock and most drivers could get out apart from Red Bull Racing’s Sergio Perez who failed to cross the pit exit before the red light. 

This means Mercedes have taken a clean sweep of practice sessions, topping all three before qualifying. Their seven-time world champion was the fastest in both FP1 and FP2, and Russell took top honours in FP3.

Practice in Vegas completed 🏁 George finishes in P1 and Lewis P6

Next up, Qualifying in the Neon City 🤩 pic.twitter.com/S2lD8Dqtfe

— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) November 23, 2024

How did FP3 finish?

Russell topped the final practice session with the fastest lap, a 1m 33.570, as McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz rounded out the top three – a maximum of three tenths off the pace. Piastri’s teammate, Lando Norris and Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen rounded out the top five in fourth and fifth, respectively. 

FP1 and FP2 pace-setter, Hamilton could only best sixth fastest ahead of the Williams duo of Alexander Albon and Franco Colapinto, in seventh and eighth. Haas’ Kevin Magnussen and Alpine’s Pierre Gasly completed the top 10, in ninth and 10th respectively. 

Haas’ Nico Hulkenberg was 11th after the final hour, 1.338s off the pace, ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Perez who finished 12th and 13th. Alpine’s Esteban Ocon and Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso completed the top 15, in 14th and 15th. 

Visa Cash App RB’s Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson occupied the bottom five, in 16th and 18th. They were joined by Kick Sauber’s driver pairing of Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu in 17th and 20th. 

Although he did not finish the session, Stroll occupied 19th when the red flag was brought out, 3.380s off Russell’s best time.

Read more Formula 1 here:

• Lewis Hamilton fastest across the opening day in Las Vegas GP
• Hamilton tops first practice of Las Vegas GP ahead of Russell
• Who is bringing special liveries to F1 Las Vegas GP?
• VCARB set to sparkle Las Vegas GP with glitter-inspired livery
• Canada GP joins rationalisation of F1 2026 calendar
• Carlos Sainz to test Williams Racing after Abu Dhabi GP

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Kamron Kent

Hi, I’m Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion.

I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I’ve loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.

Kamron Kent

Hi, I'm Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion. I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I've loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.