LAS VEGAS — Mercedes driver George Russell used his final alp of qualifying to earn the pole for Saturday night’s Las Vegas Grand Prix.
Russell posted a best lap of one minute and 32.312 seconds to edge Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz for the top qualifying position.
It was Russell’s fourth career pole and the 140th for Mercedes.
“It feels incredible to be back on pole position,” Russell said. “We’ve been so quick all weekend, but I knew that, coming into Q3, it was going to be that last lap that counted and nothing that had happened before mattered. On my first effort, I had a little bit of a moment out of turn five and clipped the wall.
“The mechanics did a great job to switch the front-wing quickly before our final run, but there was a brief moment where I thought we wouldn’t get back around and make the flag. I felt confident in myself though and knew that if I put together a clean lap that pole was possible and that was what we were able to deliver.”
Sainz was a tenth of a second back, while Pierre Gasly and Alpine built on their sensational double podium finish at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix last time out to qualify third.
Charles Leclerc was fourth for Ferrari, while championship leader Max Verstappen was fifth in his Red Bull.
McLaren’s Lando Norris was sixth, while Lewis Hamilton was relegated to 10th for Mercedes.