Las Vegas Grand Prix

In case you don’t get the Spider Pig reference, take a look at the track map 🙂

A couple of weeks gap since Brazil has seen some “behind the scenes” news

Niels Wittich, F1 Race Director for the past couple of seasons, has “stepped down with immediate effect” (i.e. been fired) and has been replaced by Rui Marques, most recently the race director for Formula 2 and 3
Paolo Basarri has left his position as the compliance officer of Formula 1’s governing body the FIA. Coincidentally(?) he’s the official who compiled a report into allegations that Ben Sulayem interfered in the operations of two races during the 2023 season.
Greg Maffei is to step down from his role as president and chief executive officer of Formula 1 owner Liberty Media at the end of the year.
Aston Martin technical director Dan Fallows has left his role with the Formula 1 team.
The Grand Prix Drivers Association (GPDA) issued a statement regarding the FIA’s imposition of penalties for swearing and quite pointedly said “We urge the FIA President to also consider his own tone and language when talking to our member drivers, or indeed about them, whether in a public forum or otherwise.” Ouch!

The US border proved challenging for TSU – he said he “nearly got sent back home”. BBC reports “Despite having the correct paperwork and required visas, Tsunoda says he was held by the US customs and border protection for up to three hours”. The Japanese driver wasn’t allowed to call his team or bring in the person he was travelling with.

Red Bull brought the wrong rear wing so the mechanics have literally sanded out a couple of dips in the top surface.

Free Practice

FP1: HAM (1:35.001), RUS, NOR, LEC, VER
The track is colder and slippier than expected; most (if not all) drivers ran wide at least once
The pit lane entrance isn’t very clear, with the line intersecting with some regular road markings
FP2: HAM (1:33.825), NOR, RUS, SAI, LEC
Williams mechanics working to fix a problem on ALB’s car; once he got out of the pits, he had to park the car with an issue
Still some lock ups, running wide and cutting corners as they get used to the track
RUS and PER both complained of too much cold air entering their helmets
FP3: RUS (1:33.570), PIA, SAI, NOR, VER
Alpine working on GAS’ car at the start of the session
VER had a few problems with locking up and running wide
STR parked his Aston Martin, causing red flags

BOT has a 5-grid spot penalty for taking a new energy store unit
Aston Martin were fined €200 for ALO speeding in the pit lane in FP3

Qualifying

Air temperature 12°C; track 14°C; humidity 25%
The track is dusty and slippery
Aston Martin mechanics are still working on STR’s car

Qualifying session 1 (Q1)
The queue of cars move onto the track quite quickly, not leaving the big gaps that they usually like
RUS is scrubbing a set of medium tyres in preparation for the race; everyone else on softs
GAS 1:34.509
PIA 1:34.058
LEC 1:33.966
PIA 1:33.450
RUS 1:33.363
5mins left; bottom 5 are BOT, OCO, MAG, HUL, STR
STR still in the garage
OCO P10
MAG P9
HUL P9
VER 1:33.299
STR leaving the pit lane with under 2mins left
Yellow flag
Chequered flag; bottom 5 are ALB, BOT, COL, LAW, STR
HAM 1:33.225
RUS 1:33.186
ALB P16
COL P9 pushes ALO to P16
LAW P14, TSU P16
TSU P10, PER P16
BOT P19
STR P20
Back of the grid: PER, ALO, ALB, BOT*, STR
*BOT’s penalty means he’ll start P20

Qualifying session 2
RUS 1:33.585
HUL 1:33.273
HAM 1:33.136
VER 1:33.085
RUS 1:32.881
5mins left; bottom 5 are COL, OCO, LAW, ZHO, LEC
The bottom 8 are all in the pits, preparing for a final run
LEC P3 relegating GAS to P11
Crawling around, creating gaps
Chequered flag; bottom 5 are GAS, COL, OCO, LAW, ZHO
RUS 1:32.779
HAM 1:32.567
ZHO P11
COL has hit the wall – that’s another rebuild for Williams
Replay shows COL clipped the wall on his left and then the one on the right
Middle of the grid: OCO, MAG, ZHO, COL, LAW

Top 10 shootout is between HAM, SAI, RUS, GAS, LEC, PIA, VER, TSU, NOR, HUL

Qualifying session 3
Start of Q3 delayed while COL’s car is removed and the debris cleaned up; some of the Armco barrier probably needs to be replaced
PIA 1:33.520
VER P2 but that looks like a second prep lap
NOR 1:33.237
LEC P3
GAS P3
TSU P5
SAI 1:33.022
VER P2
RUS 1:32.811
HAM locked up and used the escape road
RUS taps the wall in Turn 5
Order after the first run: RUS, SAI, VER, NOR, PIA, GAS, HUL, LEC, TSU, HAM
Radio from RUS saying he wants to be at the back for the final run
RUS is indeed the last to leave the pits
Radio from HAM, “I lost the back end”
Chequered flag; order is RUS, SAI, VER, NOR, PIA, GAS, HUL, LEC, TSU, HAM
PIA P3
NOR P2
LEC 1:32.783
HUL P6
HAM P10
SAI 1:32.410
GAS P2
TSU P6
VER P4
RUS 1:32.312
Front of the grid: RUS, SAI, GAS, LEC, VER, NOR, TSU, PIA, HUL, HAM

Provisional grid: RUS, SAI, GAS, LEC, VER, NOR, TSU, PIA, HUL, HAM, OCO, MAG, ZHO, COL, LAW, PER, ALO, ALB, BOT*, STR

Race

COL has been cleared by the FIA medical team so he can race… provided the Williams mechanics have managed to rebuild his car
Pit lane is open; drivers can make their way to the grid
Headwind into Turn 14 might help overtaking but a tailwind into Turn 1
Grid: RUS, SAI, GAS, LEC, VER, NOR, TSU, PIA, HUL, HAM, OCO, MAG, ZHO, LAW, PER, ALO, ALB, STR, BOT; COL will start from the pit lane

RUS leads everyone away on the formation lap
Top 14 are all on medium tyres; PER, BOT, COL on hards; ALO on softs
Lots of litter on the track – that could be a problem if anyone gets a plastic bag in an air intake
Was that smoke from STR’s car?

01/50: RUS leads into Turn 1
LEC takes P2 from GAS and SAI
ALO takes P15 from PER
LAW takes P13 from MAG
MAG and LAW wheel to wheel

02: RUS, LEC, SAI, GAS, VER, NOR, TSU, HUL, PIA, HAM, OCO, ZHO, LAW, ALO, MAG, PER, ALB, STR, BOT, COL
DRS enabled

03: RUS fastest lap 1:39.077
LEC has DRS behind RUS
Incident involving ZHO and LAW noted – leaving the track and gaining an advantage

04: LEC f/lap 1:38.329
Incident involving LAW and MAG noted
RUS has picked up some rubbish – looks like a plastic bag flapping on the left side pod
Incident involving ZHO and LAW – no further action
LEC has a look but RUS keeps P1
VER takes P4 from GAS
ALO already getting the call to box

05/50: RUS, LEC, SAI, VER, GAS, NOR, TSU, HUL, PIA, HAM
LEC alongside in Turn 1 but RUS stays ahead
ALO pits; hard tyres go on; rejoins P20
PIA noted for a false start

06: RUS f/lap
HAM takes P9 from HUL

07: RUS now over 2sec clear of the Ferrari duo
HAM alongside PIA but the McLaren hangs on to P8
SAI past his teammate for P2

08: RUS extends his lead, now over 3sec clear of SAI
VER uses to DRS to help him take P3 from LEC
HAM takes P8 from PIA

09: NOR has passed GAS for P5
TSU has HAM and PIA filling his mirrors
HAM takes P7 from TSU

10/50: RUS, SAI, VER, LEC, NOR, GAS, HAM, TSU, PIA, HUL, OCO, ZHO, LAW, PER, MAG, ALB, STR, BOT, COL, ALO
LEC and NOR pit; hard tyres for both; rejoin P16 and P17 respectively
PIA given 5sec penalty for the false start (Replay shows he was in the grid box and didn’t move before the start, so I wonder what they detected)
VER takes P2 from SAI
HAM takes P4 from GAS

11: SAI pits from P3; P12
GAS pits from P5, followed by TSU and PIA
PIA serves his 5sec penalty; hards; P18

12: VER pits from P2; hards; P7
OCO pits, as do ZHO and LAW
NOR f/lap
VER takes P6 from BOT
OCO missed his pit box! He had to leave the pits without stopping!

13: RUS pits from P1; hards; P2
VER takes P5 from MAG
OCO has a second attempt at a pit stop
LEC takes P9 from COL
NOR takes P10 from COL

14: HAM pits from P1; hards; P9
Yet to pit are PER, HUL, MAG
Radio from HAM, frustrated that (he thinks) he’s lost a lot of places, but some of those ahead haven’t stopped yet

15/50: RUS, PER, HUL, VER, SAI, LEC, NOR, MAG, HAM, BOT, COL, TSU, GAS, ALO, PIA, ALB, ZHO, LAW, OCO, STR
HUL pits from P3; rejoins P16
I’m surprised PER hasn’t been told to let VER take P2 yet

16: PER lets VER take P2
HAM f/lap 1:37.772
Smoke from GAS’ Alpine; pits, retires
HAM inside NOR to steal P6
SAI takes P3 from PER

17: HAM f/lap 1:37.091
LEC looking for a way around PER
LEC sends it down the inside to take P4
HAM takes P5 from PER, and NOR follows through for P6

18: PER pits; mediums (so he’ll probably need to stop again); P14
Those hard tyres didn’t last very long, so will everyone need to 2-stop?

19: Radio from SAI asking if they’re switching tyre strategy
ALB inside ALO to take P9

20/50: RUS, VER, SAI, LEC, HAM, NOR, TSU, PIA, ALB, ALO, HUL, ZHO, LAW, PER, OCO, STR, COL, MAG, BOT; out: GAS
HAM closing on LEC

21: Radio for SAI confirming they want to stick with Plan A, so does that mean SAI needs to make these hard tyres go to the end?

22: HAM not quite close enough to attack LEC

23: Radio from NOR concerned that his front right tyre might “go any lap”
HAM f/lap 1:37.086
HUL has passed ALB for P9
ZHO right on ALO’s tail

24: ZHO takes P11 from ALO
Sounds like ALB has an overheating problem

25/50: RUS, VER, SAI, LEC, HAM, NOR, TSU, PIA, HUL, ALB
PER takes P13 from LAW

26: PIA pits from P8; hards; P15
ALB pits; retires – rubbish in the air intake?
Radio from SAI, “let’s get off these tyres”

27: HAM f/lap 1:37.055
Radio for SAI telling him to swap positions
SAI lets LEC take P3 and quickly retakes his line to prevent HAM coming through

28: VER pits from P2; hards; P5
SAI is in the pit-in (blue+white lines) but when HAM follows him, SAI dives back onto the track – that’s going to be a penalty
HAM takes on hard tyres; rejoins P6
PER takes P9 from ZHO
Radio from SAI asking “what happened?”; “We weren’t ready” – wow!

29: SAI pits from P2; hards; P6

30/50: RUS, LEC, NOR, VER, HAM, SAI, TSU, HUL, PER, ZHO, OCO, LAW, PIA, ALO, MAG, BOT, COL, STR; out: ALB, GAS
HAM f/lap 1:36.951
TSU pits from P7; hards; P13
OCO noted for causing a collision with LAW in Turn 3

31: NOR pits from P3; hards; P7
HAM f/lap 1:36.748
PIA takes P10 from OCO

32: HAM catching VER and takes P3
LEC pits from P2; hards; P4
HAM f/lap 1:36.412
SAI takes P4 from teammate LEC

33: RUS from P1; hards; P1
PIA takes P9 from ZHO
PER pits; hards; P15

35/50: RUS, HAM, VER, SAI, LEC, NOR, PIA, ZHO, OCO, LAW, TSU, HUL, ALO, MAG, PER, COL, BOT, STR; out: ALB, GAS
TSU takes P10 from teammate LAW

36: RUS is 9.3 secs ahead of his teammate, but HAM is pushing hard
HAM f/lap 1:36.397
TSU takes P8 from OCO
HUL takes P10 from LAW

37: HAM f/lap 1:36.288 – how long before he’s told not to attack RUS? Or will RUS be told to pick up his pace?
LEC f/lap 1:36.285

38: HAM f/lap 1:36.177
ALO takes P10 from OCO
PER inside LAW but LAW has MAG on his outside – three abreast into Turn 14 – fortunately MAG backed off as PER squeezed LAW
PER comes out of that in P12

39: HAM f/lap 1:36.148 – RUS is picking up his pace
LEC f/lap 1:36.079

40/50: RUS, HAM, VER, SAI, LEC, NOR, PIA, TSU, HUL, ALO, OCO, PER, MAG, COL, ZHO, STR, LAW, BOT
Radio from VER asking if the team want him to keep the Ferrari pair behind; “I think you should”
HAM f/lap 1:35.880
PER takes P11 from OCO
TSU takes P8 from HUL

41: RUS’ lead down to 7sec
LEC f/lap 1:35.674
SAI and LEC are right on VER’s tail
SAI inside VER for P3

42: HAM f/lap 1:35.480
VER holds off LEC through Turn 1
COL takes P13 from OCO

43: RUS’s lead just under 5.5sec

44: VER still has DRS behind SAI, which offsets LEC’s DRS for attacking the Red Bull
Mercedes have told SkySport that HAM is not under team orders so he can attack RUS if he catches him

45/50: RUS, HAM, SAI, VER, LEC, NOR, PIA, TSU, HUL, ALO, PER, MAG, COL, OCO, ZHO, STR, LAW, BOT; out: ALB, GAS
HUL takes P8 from TSU
ZHO past OCO for P14
Radio for RUS telling him to “just keep picking up the pace”

46: VER no longer has DRS so LEC should be able to close up again
PER takes P10 from ALO
LEC makes a move on VER and takes P4

47: RUS’s lead seems to have stabilised at about 5secs
It’s interesting that the commentators feel the need to comment on how fair VER is being (i.e. it’s unusual for him)
HAM runs wide, cuts a corner

48: NOR is almost 10sec behind VER so there’s no chance of NOR preventing VER becoming World Champion today
Radio for NOR telling him to box, presumably to go for fastest lap

49: NOR pits from P6; softs; rejoins P6
OCO is already on softs – will Alpine try to steal the f/lap point away from NOR?

50/50: HAM’s mistake on lap 47 means RUS’s lead is over 7secs

RUS takes the chequered flag
NOR f/lap 1:34.876

Provisional result: RUS, HAM, SAI, LEC, VER, NOR, PIA, HUL, TSU, PER; ALO, MAG, ZHO, COL, STR, LAW, OCO, BOT
DNF: ALB, GAS
Fastest lap: NOR
VER is 4* time World Champion (The asterisk is for the years when he/RB cheated)

Post-race Interviews – it’s so cold, SAI is wearing a woolly hat 🙂

Post-race penalties… none!

[2024 calendar and driver line-up]