Mercedes driver George Russell has taken aim at Lando Norris by suggesting that Max Verstappen has not been given a "proper fight" for the F1 world title. The Dutchman took fifth place in Las Vegas to seal a fourth successive crown, with his McLaren rival a place behind him.

Mercedes driver George Russell pipped Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz to pole position at the Las Vegas Grand Prix with the final lap of an engrossing qualifying session. Russell snuck ahead of Sainz by just 0.098 seconds while Alpine’s Pierre Gasly pulled off a major shock by taking third place.

George Russell secured pole position on Friday evening for the Las Vegas Grand Prix, and Carlos Sainz will line up alongside him. The second row will be Pierre Gasly and Charles Leclerc. But the driver championship contenders are farther back.