LAS VEGAS – In a race on a brutal driver schedule, George Russell said a 45-minute power nap helped him secure pole position for Mercedes at the Las Vegas Grand Prix.

Qualifying started at 10pm local time, a schedule that left a grid of jet-lagged drivers struggling to get the hang of their sleep patterns.

“I took a nap before qualifying,” said Russell. “I woke up a little sleepy and made sure I was in top condition at the end of qualifying.

“It’s very difficult, but we’re all in the same boat.”

Explaining it a bit further, Russell added: “Normally I would try to meditate instead of sleeping, just close my eyes and listen to, I don’t know, waves crashing against the sea or breathing exercises. I like of box breathing and it works for me. It relaxes my mind and takes some of the pressure off.

“But yeah, today I probably have 45 minutes. It’s just an adjustment every weekend. When people ask me, what’s your race weekend routine, the routine changes every weekend depending on how you slept the night before, the conditions you encounter And of course, it’s so challenging for everyone here to be so compensated and work night shifts effectively. You know, for me, just sleeping when I can work is for me.

Mercedes had been at the top of every practice session leading into qualifying, but in recent rounds they have seen their performance decline compared to the rest at that stage of the weekend.

Russell ensured that wasn’t the case this time, taking his third pole of the year and Mercedes’ first since the British Grand Prix in July.

“Incredibly satisfying,” Russell said. “Especially because we know the car has been so fast all weekend, as a team we have been at the top in every session. But when you reach Q3, you know that what happened beforehand has no influence whatsoever. So the pressure is increased a bit. “

As for where the pace came from, Russell said: “To be honest, I’d love to tell you. It was a real surprise for all of us, and it is something that we really have to assess because this is an outrageous circuit. I didn’t do anything special specifically for Vegas, but for whatever reason, the conditions and the layout are in our favor and I’m kind of wondering why.”

Mercedes appeared to be in line for a front row lockout, but Russell’s teammate Lewis Hamilton failed to take a lap lead in Q3 and finished 10th.

“I just didn’t do it, the car felt different in Q3 and the stability wasn’t there for some reason,” said Hamilton. “But I had it in other sessions. But in the end I couldn’t match the laps.”

Asked if it hurt not to have converted Mercedes’ pace, the Ferrari-bound Hamilton said: “Not really, because I feel great. I wish I was on pole, George is on pole and it’s great for the team, it’s no sting. .

“Look ahead, I got three shots in, two more shots in the next races and see how it goes. The good thing is I have speed.”