Ahead of Sunday's race however, Verstappen will be preparing to storm through the pack, after a disappointing qualifying session sees him start the race from fifth, crucially though, still ahead of Norris in P6.
The Dutchman will be hoping to beat Norris to the line along the Vegas strip if he wishes to be crowned champion this weekend, or else the battle will continue into the Qatar GP next weekend, if not a race to the finale in Abu Dhabi come December.
Despite being out of contention for both the drivers' and the constructors' championships, Mercedes were the team that looked strongest around the track in Vegas' testing conditions this weekend, topping the timesheets of every session so far.
Lewis Hamilton took Mercedes to the top of both FP1 and FP2 sessions despite the coldGeorge Russell will start the Las Vegas GP from pole position
Following Russell's spectacular display that landed him pole position for the main event, the British star took to the post-qualifying press conference to face questions from the media.
High on the agenda was Russell's opinion on a new face in the paddock, the Mercedes man thrown a question over how it had gone down when he had met the newly appointed FIA race director for the first time in Vegas this weekend.
Discussing his first impressions, Russell said: "I'd say positive, to be honest. I think we've been through a little bit of an era where our comments are taken on board, but very little change happens."
Niels Wittich left his role as FIA race director with just three races remaining on the 2024 F1 calendar
Earlier this month, the Grand Prix Drivers' Association, which Russell is a director for, hit out at the sport's governing body in a collective statement from the drivers.
However having met just once with the new FIA race director, Russell appeared pleased at an instant change that has been made ahead of this weekend's race in Vegas.
"For example, a number of drivers spoke about the track limits of the exit of Turn 4. We felt it was a little bit unnecessary on a street circuit. He made a change to it in the moment, and I think that's what we want to see as drivers we want to be we heard we want to be heard and we want to see action taken straight away. So I mean, so far it's been positive. "
GP CANADA
7 - 9 Jun
GP SPAIN
21 - 23 Jun
GP AUSTRIA
28 - 30 Jun
GP GREAT BRITAIN
5 - 7 Jul
GP HUNGARY
19 - 21 Jul
GP BELGIUM
26 - 28 Jul
GP NETHERLANDS
23 - 25 Aug
GP ITALY
30 Aug - 1 Sep
GP AZERBAIJAN
13 - 15 Sep
GP SINGAPORE
20 - 22 Sep
GP USA
18 - 20 Oct
GP MEXICO
25 - 27 Oct
GP BRAZIL
1 - 3 Nov
GP QATAR
29 Nov - 1 Dec
GP ABU DHABI
6 - 8 Dec
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