Lando Norris takes commanding pole position in a rain-soaked qualifying for the Las Vegas Grand Prix. Max Verstappen will join him on the front row, in front of Carlos Sainz and George Russell, following a hectic session.
The Rain Arrives
All weekend long, the threat of rain has been around, and it came in force in Qualifying. The mixture of racing under the lights, the low-grip track and the rain made it the ultimate challenge. FP1 had started on intermediates but eventually dried up enough for dry tyres. More rain just before the session made the wets a must to start, but that was just the beginning.
Hamilton Makes Shock Q1 Exit
The big news out of Q1 was the elimination of Lewis Hamilton. There was clear confusion between the 7-time World Champion and Ferrari as Lewis appeared to abort his final lap, thinking he hadn’t made it across the line before the session ended. He struggled for pace all session, but his Qualifying nightmare continued.
Elsewhere, Alex Albon and Ollie Bearman both connected with the walls as the drivers tackled extremely slippery conditions. Most of the field started out on intermediates but quickly switched to wets. The Astons started straight on the wets so topped the times for most of Q1.
Survival and being on the track at the right time for the conditions were going to be essential, and Hamilton wasn’t the only big name to go out in Q1. Kimi Antonelli’s Mercedes was also knocked out after being as high as 7th with 3 minutes to go.
Piastri Scrapes Through Q2
With the rain having now stopped, times were going to tumble in Q2 as the track dried up. A queue formed at the end of the pit lane as the drivers were keen to get times on the board early. With the cars fuelled up for multiple laps and the track still very treacherous, drivers were locking up, sliding all over the place and abandoning laps.
Colapinto won the award for ‘Save of the Day’ as he somehow kept his car out of the barriers at the final chicane.
In the championship fight, Oscar Piastri avoided disaster as he scraped through to Q3 in 10th. Only Pierre Gasly improved into the Top 10 to save his blushes.
A top three of George Russell, Isack Hadjar and Carlos Sainz in Q2 hinted that a mixed-up grid for Sunday’s race was on the cards.
When the chequered flag flew to end Q2, the places 11 – 15 on the grid for Sunday were set: Hulkenberg, Stroll, Ocon, Bearman and Colapinto.
Norris Takes Commanding Pole Position
Charles Leclerc set the early benchmark in Q3 of a 1:52:060 on the intermediates, but as the track continued to dry, this was not going to be enough.
Despite Carlos Sainz also setting the benchmark time, as the session progressed, the McLarens started to show their speed. Oscar Piastri led a 1-2 with 6 minutes to go, but the session was far from over. Norris would flip this order with 2 minutes to go with a fantastic 1:48.384, putting half a second between the two title rivals.
As the final runs got underway, Carlos Sainz took provisional pole before quickly being pipped by Max Verstappen. Behind them, Leclerc locked up and ran wide, bringing out the yellow flag. He ruined his lap and finished 9th, but also ruined Oscar Piastri’s, who will line up 5th for Sunday’s race.
But through all the yellow flag drama, Lando Norris takes a commanding pole position by 0.323 seconds, despite a huge slide out of the final chicane. When the pressure was highest, Norris delivered to take another step towards that first title.
Make sure to set your alarms as the Las Vegas Grand Prix will begin on Sunday at 4am UK time, 8pm local time.