In an electrifying showdown at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, which marked the 22nd round of the 2024 FIA Formula 1 World Championship, the MoneyGram Haas F1 Team drivers secured solid positions on the grid, with Nico Hulkenberg qualifying ninth and Kevin Magnussen finishing justo behind in 12th place.
In a bold and strategic move reminiscent of the high-stakes atmosphere of Las Vegas, the team opted to take a gamble by utilizing only one set of Pirelli P Zero Red soft tires for each driver during Q1. By allowing the street circuit to improve over time, they strategically unleashed both cars for optimal flying laps in the latter part of the session. The risk proved fruitful as Hulkenberg set a competitive time of 1:33.920 to place 11th and advance to Q2, while Magnussen followed closely behind with a 1:33.991 for a 13th-place finish in Q1.
With two fresh sets of soft tires at their disposal for Q2, Magnussen’s initial lap produced a time of 1:33.521. Building on this, he improved further, recording a 1:33.297 on his second run but ultimately settled in P12, narrowly missing Q3. Meanwhile, Hulkenberg’s first attempt in Q2 yielded a commendable 1:33.273. Demonstrating his pace, he outdid himself again to clock a 1:33.114, securing him a place in Q3 with a 10th position finish.
During the final session of qualifying, Hulkenberg managed to elevate his performance once more, achieving P9 on the grid with a lap time of 1:33.062. This feat placed him just behind pole-sitter George Russell of Mercedes, who dominated the session with a blistering time of 1:32.312, followed by Carlos Sainz from Scuderia Ferrari in second with a 1:32.410.
Nico Hulkenberg:
“Around this track, you always think there could’ve been more, but it’s tough. With the low-grip feeling, sometimes you try more and massively overstep and lose it; there’s definitely a fine line here, and it’s challenging for everyone. All in all, it was a decent qualifying but I would’ve liked to have been a bit more ahead – I think P6 was only half a tenth away, so that would’ve made me happier, but we’ll try and race well tomorrow. We have a good race car, so I’m optimistic.”
Kevin Magnussen:
“There were some decent laps there; it just didn’t seem like we had the pace from practice. There’s a bit of a question mark there, as I had expected us to be best of the rest, and suddenly I was behind a few others and not sure why. P12 is still a spot we can score points from; it’s a long race and it’s not over at all.”
Ayao Komatsu, Team Principal:
“Qualifying was a bit disappointing; I think we underperformed a little bit. P9 and P12 is still a decent position for tomorrow to go and fight for points from – that’s the aim.”
Today’s Data:
Event: Qualifying for the Las Vegas Grand Prix – Friday November 22
Location: Las Vegas Strip Circuit, Las Vegas, Nevada
Layout: 6.201-kilometer (3.853-mile), 17-turn circuit
Weather: Clear
Air Temps: 12 degrees Celsius (53.6 degrees Fahrenheit)
Track Temps: 14 degrees Celsius (57.2 degrees Fahrenheit)
Team Result: Hulkenberg qualified 9th, Magnussen qualified 12th
What were the key factors that contributed to Nico Hulkenberg’s P9 qualifying position at the Las Vegas Grand Prix?
**Interview with Nico Hulkenberg, Haas F1 Driver, Post-Qualifying: Las Vegas Grand Prix**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us, Nico. What a qualifying session it was! You managed to secure P9 on the grid for the Las Vegas Grand Prix. How do you feel about that performance?
**Nico Hulkenberg:** I’m really pleased with how it went. The team made some bold decisions, and it paid off. Qualifying in the top ten is always a great achievement, especially on a circuit like this where the competition is fierce. I felt confident during my flying laps.
**Interviewer:** Speaking of strategy, the team decided to gamble on using only one set of Pirelli P Zero Red soft tires in Q1. Was that a risky choice?
**Nico Hulkenberg:** Absolutely, it was a big gamble! But with the way the track evolves, we thought it was worth the risk. We aimed to capitalize on the optimal conditions later in the session, and it worked out well for me as I advanced to Q2. It’s great to see that strategy come together.
**Interviewer:** You started Q2 with a solid time and managed to improve further. What was going through your mind during those runs?
**Nico Hulkenberg:** I was just focused on maximizing every lap. Each run felt better than the last, which is always encouraging. The car was performing well, and I just aimed to build on that momentum. Securing P10 for Q3 felt fantastic.
**Interviewer:** You eventually achieved P9 on the grid. How does it feel to be right behind competitors like George Russell and Carlos Sainz?
**Nico Hulkenberg:** It’s always a bit surreal to be in the mix with those top teams. I respect their speed, but I’m here to compete. Being just behind them means we’re on the right track. Hopefully, we can capitalize on our positions during the race.
**Interviewer:** What will be your focus as you head into the race tomorrow?
**Nico Hulkenberg:** The goal is to have a strong start and maintain our position. We’ll need to manage our tires well and be strategic about overtaking opportunities. It’s going to be a long race, and every decision counts. I’m looking forward to it!
**Interviewer:** Thanks for your time, Nico! Best of luck in the race!
**Nico Hulkenberg:** Thank you! I appreciate it. Let’s see what we can do!
