The 2024 F1 Las Vegas GP was an intriguing challenge for the drivers and the teams. By the time the chequered flag fell we not only got our race winner but also saw this year's driver championship being sealed by Max Verstappen.
The race weekend was a very interesting amalgamation of surprises up and down the field, with some drivers producing impressive performances, while others struggling to keep up.
Amid all this, George Russell stood out in the end as he won the F1 Las Vegas GP. Max Verstappen on his part also sealed the title, making it four in a row for him.
The F1 Las Vegas GP had quite a few impressive performances and at the same time, some failed to make the desired impact. So, how did everyone fare this past weekend? Let's take a look.
Criteria
- Performance in both qualifying and races is judged.
- Results achieved compared to the potential of the car.
- Mistakes made over the weekend.
- Relative performance against their teammate.
2024 F1 Las Vegas GP: Rating the drivers
Red Bull
Max Verstappen
Rating: 8
Could a podium have been possible for Max Verstappen at the F1 Las Vegas GP? Maybe, but we have to wonder if the driver was just pacing himself and trying to ensure he seals the title this weekend.
It's been a stressful last few races for the driver which has caused a very interesting side of him to come out. You add all that up and what you see is a driver who is just a step above everyone else in F1.
Sergio Perez
Rating: 5
Another bad one for Checo. The Mexican is in a horrible situation at Red Bull right now where he's just unable to alleviate the growing pressure.
The F1 Las Vegas GP was no different and it also showed that perhaps the end is near for the driver.
Mercedes
Lewis Hamilton
Rating: 8
Lewis Hamilton could have potentially won the race but has no one but himself to blame for it. The Mercedes driver's poor qualifying cost him and it led to a race where he finished second instead of a win.
George Russell
Rating: 10
George Russell put together a perfect weekend, and if this race does not give his doubters the answers they were looking for, then nothing will.
He made the most of his opportunity and got the job done. Just how it's supposed to be.
Ferrari
Charles Leclerc
Rating: 7.5
This was an overall poor show from Charles Leclerc and the Monegasque knew it as well. Finishing P4 instead of P3 is not a big deal but what is a big deal is how his teammate was quite easily able to seemingly maneuver himself within the team politics and gain on him.
As Charles Leclerc said, he's too nice, and as is often said, nice guys finish last.
Carlos Sainz
Rating: 8
Carlos Sainz secured a podium for himself at the F1 Las Vegas GP, but at the same time, he also vindicated Red Bull's decision of not taking a punt on him. Going against team orders and not playing the team game hurt the Spaniard's prospects of a future at a big team for sure.
On the other side, you had the Spaniard picking up another podium and showing that he can get the job done in a strong car.
McLaren
Lando Norris
Rating: 7
Lando Norris had one of the more anonymous weekends in Las Vegas as McLaren didn't really have the pace to compete with the top 3. The British driver's title challenge is over and it's safe to claim that there would be a sigh of relief from his side as well after the F1 Las Vegas GP.
Oscar Piastri
Rating: 5
A poor weekend from Oscar Piastri who seemingly has gone off the boil a bit recently when it comes to performances. There are races where the Australian has been decent, but just like the F1 Las Vegas GP, the driver has had a few off-weekends now.
Aston Martin
Fernando Alonso
Rating: 7
Fernando Alonso did whatever he could in that Aston Martin, which looks in dire straits right now. The Spaniard can only do so much in a car that started as the 4th fastest this season but is currently close to 9th fastest.
Lance Stroll
Rating: 6
A listless weekend for Lance Stroll as the Canadian encountered reliability issues. The season's end couldn't come sooner Aston Martin if Las Vegas GP is anything to go by.
Alpine
Pierre Gasly
Rating: 8
Pierre Gasly started the race in P3 in an Alpine that was flying in qualifying. What followed was the French driver losing position and falling behind Yuki Tsunoda, then the power unit went.
The F1 Las Vegas GP was a big race for the team in 2023, this time around it was a return to reality after the Sau Paulo double podium.
Esteban Ocon
Rating: 7
Esteban Ocon complained about car issues on Saturday and lost half a second to Pierre Gasly on traction. By the looks of it, he's not wrong and this was evident in the telemetry as well.
With that being said, a race where you're called into pits and your pit crew isn't there and then put on an extended, counterintuitive single-stop strategy makes you question what the team was thinking. A weekend to forget for Ocon as his stint with Alpine comes to an end.
Williams
Alex Albon
Rating: 6
Not the best weekend for Alex. The Thai driver is facing the heat with Franco Colapinto in the other car, and another qualifying loss at the F1 Las Vegas GP was not a good look.
Franco Colapinto
Rating: 6
For Franco Colapinto, the crash on Saturday was a bad one and ideally a concussed driver should not be racing the next day. Nevertheless, the Argentinian's stock remains high after the F1 Las Vegas GP as his future remains uncertain.
V-Ca-RB
Liam Lawson
Rating: 6
A weekend to forget for Liam Lawson and one that he probably would not have wanted. The Kiwi was thoroughly outclassed by Yuki Tsunoda and the timing of it as well was just not ideal.
Yuki Tsunoda
Rating: 8.5
Yuki Tsunoda nailed the F1 Las Vegas GP and did possibly the best he could in that RB. In a weekend that started with the horrible ordeal at the US customs, this was a great end.
Stake F1 Sauber
Valtteri Bottas
Rating: 6
A decent weekend for Valtteri but once it was all about the car just not being good enough to achieve much. The Finnish driver is staring at the last two races of his stint with Sauber and the F1 Las Vegas GP might not have helped grow much affinity to the team either.
Guanyu Zhou
Rating: 7
A better overall weekend from Zhou Guanyu where the Chinese driver had the legs on his teammate Valtteri Bottas. The driver now has arguably two races left in his F1 career before he moves on to something else.
Haas F1
Kevin Magnussen
Rating: 6.5
Kevin was once again a step behind Nico Hulkenberg at Haas this weekend. The Danish driver is now going to compete in his last two races for the team at Qatar and Abu Dhabi before the stint comes to an end.
Nico Hulkenberg
Rating: 8
Another vintage Nico Hulkenberg weekend at the F1 Las Vegas GP where he maximized qualifying and race prospects for him. The German has propped Haas back up to P8 now with his result this past weekend.