LAS VEGAS — An exuberant George Russell celebrated his victory at the Formula 1 race on Saturday night, jubilantly shouting “Vegas!” over the radio. He expressed his desire to enjoy the festivities in Las Vegas rather than boarding his flight back to the UK. During the post-race podium interview, conducted by actor Terry Crews against the backdrop of the Bellagio fountains, Russell proclaimed, “I’m definitely not getting on that flight. I’m going to enjoy this evening.”
This victory was not solely about Russell; his teammate Lewis Hamilton secured second place, ensuring a Mercedes 1-2 finish. The team has faced significant upheaval, with Hamilton set to join Ferrari next year and dealing with the disappointment of not competing for the constructors’ championship. Nevertheless, this night provided a much-needed moment of triumph for Mercedes.
Max Verstappen, who secured his fourth consecutive championship title with a fifth-place finish in this race, shared the spotlight with the Mercedes duo. This marked Mercedes’ first 1-2 finish since the 2022 Brazil race, the same pairing of Russell and Hamilton.
Team principal Toto Wolff acknowledged the prospects of building on this success as they head to the next race in Qatar, noting that the weather and track conditions will be somewhat similar. However, he expressed less confidence regarding the season finale in Abu Dhabi. Despite his future commitments, including returning to Los Angeles to be with his family, Wolff took a moment to relish the team’s success. “It’s good to come back with a 1-2, and I’m happy with the way we got there because we dominated the race,” he remarked, highlighting that there were laps where the team was two seconds faster than their competitors.
Russell’s win in Las Vegas was his second victory of the season, having previously triumphed in Austria during June. He almost had a third win this season after a July triumph in Belgium, which turned into a disqualification due to a breach of the car’s minimum-weight limit during post-race checks, handing the win to Hamilton instead.
Speaking of Hamilton, he has achieved a record 105 victories in F1, with his first win with Mercedes almost a decade ago. Although he had a competitive car capable of securing a 106th victory, he faced challenges during qualifying, starting in 10th position. Hamilton reflected on his race, saying, “I guess it would’ve been a breeze today (with a better starting position), but it’s OK. I had fun coming back from 10th. The team did a fantastic job. We don’t know why we are so quick this weekend.”
Wolff noted his admiration for Hamilton’s performance as he navigated through the pack to achieve a strong finish. However, the future will see Hamilton racing for a different team, while Wolff will seek ways to ensure Hamilton does not dominate the podium.
In the post-race press conference, Hamilton remained graceful, avoiding any dissatisfaction about his position and instead commended Russell’s performance. “George did a great job,” he praised. “He did everything you’re supposed to do. I’m happy for him, and I’m just grateful I could get back up there and support the team like I want to.”
Russell, who successfully secured pole position, understood the significance of his starting spot. “I think we won the race from step one,” he noted, revealing his focus on managing tire health to ensure victory. He was determined to maintain a steady pace and bring the win home.