OFFICIAL GRID: Who's where for lights-out in Vegas as Colapinto opts for pit-lane start

Las Vegas may be famed for gambling, but few would have bet on this starting order ahead of the Grand Prix weekend: Mercedes’ George Russell on pole, Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz in P2 and Alpine’s Pierre Gasly in P3 – amazing stuff.

Chasing them down the Strip on Lap 1 will be the second Ferrari of Charles Leclerc and the man who could clinch a fourth consecutive drivers’ title here, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen. The only driver who can stop him – McLaren’s Lando Norris – starts one place behind in sixth.

REPORT: Russell charges to pole for Las Vegas Grand Prix over Sainz and Gasly

An excellent qualifying from Yuki Tsunoda puts RB seventh, ahead of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and the Haas of Nico Hulkenberg. A disappointed Lewis Hamilton completes the top ten, a couple of uncharacteristic Q3 errors having cost the Mercedes driver a shot at pole.

Mixed fortunes at Kick Sauber means Zhou Guanyu starts a strong 13th, while team mate Valtteri Bottas is at the back thanks to a five-place grid penalty for using an additional power unit element. Among those between them is Red Bull’s Sergio Perez in 15th after another lacklustre qualifying for the Mexican.

And starting from the pit lane is Franco Colapinto, who has been cleared to race after his 50G Q2 crash that gave the tireless Williams team another serious repair job to do overnight.

The 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix starts at 2200 local time. Be sure to join our live coverage from 2100 here.