F1 Las Vegas GP Live Commentary and Updates - Qualifying
Minute-by-minute updates for qualifying for the 2024 Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix
Formula 1 returns for its final leg of the season under the bright lights of Sin City for the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
Lewis Hamilton topped both of the opening practice sessions for Mercedes, with team-mate George Russell fastest in final practice.
As Max Verstappen aims to confirm a fourth drivers' title, who will take pole?
Qualifying for the Las Vegas GP starts at 6:00am GMT.
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Most drivers opting for double prep laps to start the session but Sauber's duo don't - Zhou setting the benchmark with a 1m36.777s.
It was a scrub run for Russell to give that set of mediums a heat cycle and take the shine off the new tyre.
He pits and will return on a set of softs at a later point.
Medium tyres are on Russell's Mercedes to start off. A lot of activity on track already though, there's no hanging around.
Just eight cars in the pits.
And just like that, the Vegas grandstands come to life! Plenty are packed in now as the thermometer hits a positively toasty 12 degrees. They will be hoping to be warmed up by an entertaining session.
While Aston continues to work, Las Vegas GP qualifying is go!
The car is still in pieces as the team rushes to get the Canadian ready for the session after he stopped at the end of FP3.
Aston Martin: "Lance Stroll’s AMR24 had an energy recovery system failure during FP3 at the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
"The team is still working hard to change the ERS pack and get Lance out on track for Q1."
For anyone wondering what the track conditions feel like with these temperatures, Sainz likened them to Turkey 2020 yesterday.
We all remember the chaos there!
With the temperatures as low as they are and tyre management so pivotal, there could be some shocks, however.
Haas looked fast in FP3, as did Williams. But that could all change at the flick of a finger.
What practice has told us is that although Ferrari looks the clear favourite for the victory tomorrow on race pace, Mercedes, McLaren and Red Bull all have the one-lap pace to fight for pole.
This could be a classic qualifying session.
Red Bull's issues yesterday saw the team run an alternative programme during FP3.
Verstappen and Perez initially ran long on medium tyres before switching to softs late on.
The Mexican failed to set a representative time after Stroll's Aston Martin hit trouble and triggered late red flags.
If you weren't around for the final practice session earlier, George Russell completed a clean sweep for Mercedes this weekend so far.
Can the Silver Arrows carry that performance into the next hour or so of running?
Welcome back to coverage of the Las Vegas Grand Prix weekend.
Practice is done and qualifying is just around the corner - who will take pole?
By: Ewan Gale
