F1 fans react to 'awkward' moment between Lewis Hamilton, George Russell and Carlos Sainz after Las Vegas GP

Formula 1 fans have reacted to an 'awkward' moment between George Russell, Lewis Hamilton and Carlos Sainz at the Las Vegas Grand Prix.

Russell won the race in what was a dominant performance in Vegas, with Mercedes team-mate Hamilton making up eight places from 10th on the grid to finish in second.

Russell led the entire race after an excellent start, with Hamilton capitalising on a strong first stint to draw close to and pass the Ferraris of Sainz and Charles Leclerc, as well as Max Verstappen in the Red Bull.

Sainz would eventually finish third, although team-mate Leclerc was furious at the Spaniard being allowed to pass him as he left the pits following his final stop.

The podium ceremony, meanwhile, commenced after the top three travelled around the final sector of the track, in reverse, while sat inside in a Rolls-Royce.

That meant there was no cooldown room, with the three drivers sat along the back seats of the luxury car.

And that created what fans thought was an 'awkward' scene between Russell, Hamilton and Sainz.

One fan wrote: "Lewis is secretly like, 'Get me out of this car now'."

Another said: "There wasn't even space for Lewis to sit back."

A third added: "Actually burst out laughing when he started looking at himself in the overhead visor mirror."

A fourth claimed: "He's looking at Sainz like, 'How are you here? [over the pit lane incident]"

Hamilton has two races remaining in his Mercedes career before he leaves the team to replace Sainz at Ferrari for 2025.

And although the Brit couldn't definitively say why his car was so quick this weekend - though said the cold temperatures may have been a decisive factor - he expressed optimism that he could end his 11-year stint with Mercedes on a high.

He said: "We don't know why we were so quick this weekend, but that's the best the car's ever felt, so I'm grateful to have been a part of getting it to that point.

"If the car drives like that in the next couple of races, then I think we'll be in a good spot to challenge the guys up front."