P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Russell "wasn’t concerned" about where he’d qualify for F1 Vegas GP
In qualifying, the Mercedes driver performed well, topping the FP3 session and securing fourth place on the starting grid. However, due to Carlos Sainz’s penalty, he will start in third position. His teammate, Lewis Hamilton, struggled and failed to make it to the final session, qualifying in 11th place. The driver believes that graining will be a significant issue in the race, and starting positions may not matter as much due to tire degradation. He mentioned that managing the tires by driving slower is an option but leaves the driver vulnerable to attacks from behind. Russell also noted that Ferrari has been strong with no graining issues and being fast on high fuel. Overall, the challenge of managing tire graining remains uncertain, and the cold temperatures in Las Vegas contribute to the problem. Hamilton mentioned lacking confidence and grip compared to his teammate.
