Las Vegas: pre-qualifying 2024


And so, after a stupid three week break with three consecutive race weekends either side, we are back for the final three races of the year.

For those interested, F1 put up the whole of the 2023 race on YouTube, which can be watched here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqq0AmnGwqI

A few quick notes on re-watching:
  • Perez pitted lap 2 under VSC for a nose change, was 18th yet ended up on the podium.
  • Stroll and Tsunoda started on soft tyres, made up many places early on (Stroll got good points, Tsunoda DNFed).
  • Slippery surface, concerns over maintaining temperature with VSC/SC.
  • Lap 7, Sainz was 17th, Piastri 10th, Sainz finished 6th, Piastri 10th.

First practice was a Mercedes 1-2, Hamilton leading Russell by four-tenths. Norris was over half a second further back, half a tenth ahead of Leclerc. Verstappen, Sainz, and Alonso followed, with Piastri, Gasly, and Perez rounding out the top 10.

Hamilton also topped second practice, this time one-hundredth ahead of Norris. Russell was a tenth further back, with Sainz another tenth behind and two-tenths up on Leclerc. I do wonder if Ferrari are underperforming slightly, but we’ll find out come qualifying. Gasly was next, albeit three and a half tenths off Leclerc, narrowly ahead of Magnussen, Piastri, Hulkenberg, and Tsunoda.


So far, Mercedes look good, Norris next quickest, Red Bull a bit low on grip, Piastri a step off Norris’ pace, and Ferrari potentially in the mix or perhaps third quickest.

Qualifying and the race both start at 6am. Because of that, the markets aren’t really very advanced. My main consideration was Sainz at 7 (boosted to 7.5) but I’m not betting on anything this weekend.


Morris Dancer

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