Mercedes' George Russell secured a surprising pole position at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, marking his first since the British Grand Prix. The achievement came after Mercedes dominated all practice sessions, with Hamilton leading Thursday's practice and Russell topping FP3.

Despite needing a front wing change after brushing the wall during his first Q3 run, Russell managed to set the fastest time as the last driver on track. "Honestly, absolutely not (expected)," Russell admitted, expressing genuine surprise at Mercedes' exceptional pace throughout the weekend.

The team's performance remains somewhat mysterious, with Russell acknowledging the need for "deep diving to understand why it's been so quick." Looking ahead to the race, tire management appears to be a crucial factor, with both medium and soft compounds showing significant graining during long runs.

A unique challenge faces all drivers as none have tested the hard compound tire during the weekend. Russell expects the hard tire to be resilient but acknowledges the race will require adaptability and learning on the fly. The first stint could be particularly crucial for race strategy.

Despite his pole position, Russell remains cautious about race day prospects, noting that "anything can happen" in Vegas, especially considering the potential impact of safety cars, as seen in recent races. The British driver, who revealed he took a 45-minute nap before qualifying, aims to convert his strong qualifying performance into a race win.

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