How have drivers changed their routine for the Las Vegas Grand Prix?

On the back of his sensational pole position at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, Mercedes driver George Russel has revealed that he had a 45-minute nap ahead of the all-important session.

Like last year, track action began with two free practice sessions getting the event underway on Thursday, leading up to the race on Saturday night, run entirely under floodlights.

Having displayed strong pace all through the weekend, Mercedes driver George Russell set the benchmark in qualifying at the Las Vegas Grand Prix to secure his fourth career pole position. Reflecting on his third pole position of the season, Russell reckoned that he is still struggling to understand why his W15 has been so strong all through the weekend.

When asked how he approached the weekend which features an unusual timetable, Russell has revealed that he had a 45-minute nap ahead of the all-important session.

"I mean, to be honest, I'd normally try and probably sort of meditate as opposed to sleep, just sort of close my eyes and listen to, I don't know, waves crashing against the sea or breathing exercises. I sort of do like box breathing and works for me. It sort of relaxes my mind and takes a bit of pressure off.

"But yeah, today got probably 45 minutes. So yeah, as I said, it's just adapting every single weekend. When people ask me, like, what's your race weekend routine, the routine changes every single weekend, depending on how you slept the night before, the circumstances you find yourself in.

"And obviously here, it's so challenging for everyone being so offset, working night shift effectively. You know, for me, just sleeping when I can is working for me.

Pushed on to reveal how challenging the Las Vegas weekend has been so far, the two-time F1 race winner said that the change of time zones has posed the biggest task.

"It's a real challenge for the body. Such a big shift from Europe. And of course, we have to shift back when we go to Qatar next week. So it's difficult to get your eight hours sleep in when it's so offset.

"o for me, it's also just trying to sleep when you can, so I took. you know, a nap before qualifying. Woke up a little bit drowsy and then made sure I was in peak condition come the end of qualifying. But it's really difficult, but we're all in the same boat.

Having taken second for tomorrow's Las Vegas Grand Prix, Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz spoke about his routine, revealing that he had to change his sleeping schedule to get used to the timetable.

"I will go to sleep at 4 a.m., wake up at 12. I think today I woke up at 12. So as late as possible, basically, because if not, the day becomes so long that you arrive to the night very tired. And yeah, I've been changing my sleeping routine one hour more or less every day that I spend here.

"I managed to go to sleep an hour later, wake up an hour later. And tomorrow I'll try and wake up at 1. Apart from that, you do breakfast, lunch, and dinner according to that timetable.

"So my breakfast is at 2 p.m., lunch is at 7, dinner is in an hour or two. So, yeah, it's weird, but for me, it's just how the day works here. And I want to keep everything as a normal weekend, getting the same amount of hours of sleep, and then keeping myself the same time until the important session of the week.

Hot on the heels of a double podium finish for Alpine, Pierre Gasly has secured another surprise result, by qualifying himself in P3 for Saturday's Las Vegas Grand Prix.

Reflecting on his routine in Nevada, the Frenchman noted: "Similar comments, maybe shifted a bit later for me compared to Carlos, but I find what’s most challenging here is the amount of sunlight you get throughout the whole week is just so little that it just makes it kind of strange reason because you're in the night for a full week pretty much.

"It's a bit strange, but, yeah, we get used to it. We know it's tough. It's one of these things where it's almost better not really to think about it because there's nothing we can do. So, you know, it's business. Just get it done. And then next week's going to be tough. We're all going to, you know, struggle, but it's going to be the same for everyone. So, yeah, just get through it."