McLaren’s Lando Norris delivered a sensational performance in treacherous conditions to take pole position for the 2025 Las Vegas Grand Prix, strengthening his position in the Formula 1 world title fight. With his teammate and championship challenger Oscar Piastri managing only fifth, Norris is now in a prime position to extend his championship lead heading into the final three races of the season.
Norris topped the timesheets by 0.323 seconds ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, the only other driver with a mathematical chance of challenging for the title. Williams driver Carlos Sainz impressed with third, while George Russell’s strong run put him fourth on the grid.
Meanwhile, seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton endured a shocking session, struggling to generate tyre temperature and finishing 20th, marking the first time he has qualified last on outright pace.
Relentless Rain Turns Qualifying Into Chaos
Qualifying began under heavy rain that soaked the Las Vegas Strip Circuit. Drivers started the session on extreme wet tyres, navigating low visibility and standing water. Many described conditions as “driving on ice,” with the track offering next to no grip.
Despite the treacherous surface, the entire qualifying session remarkably ran without a single red flag.
Norris was not the fastest in the early wet phases, but when the track improved enough for intermediate tyres in Q3, he came alive. His pace on the inters set him apart, and even a wild moment while riding the kerb through the tight Turns 14–16 chicane couldn’t stop him from securing pole.
“Stressful as hell,” Norris admitted. “Every corner felt like you could crash. But the car came alive on the inters, and the lap was just good enough.”
Piastri Held Back by Yellow Flags in Final Sector
Oscar Piastri, only 24 points behind Norris in the championship heading into the weekend, was one of several drivers forced to lift after a yellow flag was thrown late in Q3. The disrupted final lap left the Australian frustrated, as his pace up to that point suggested he could have challenged for the front row.
Piastri told Sky Sports:
“There was definitely more in it, but we didn’t get the chance to use it. We still have a strong car and I’m confident we can fight back in the race.”
Verstappen Still a Major Threat Despite Missing Pole
Max Verstappen, known for his prowess in wet conditions, admitted the Las Vegas track was unpredictable even by wet-weather standards.
“It felt like driving on ice,” the three-time champion said. “We were competitive on the extremes, but not quite enough on the inters to fight Lando for pole.”
Still, starting from the front row keeps Verstappen firmly in the fight heading into Turn 1. His trademark aggressive starts make him one of the biggest threats to Norris’ victory hopes.
Sainz Shines for Williams — Top Five Continues to Surprise
One of the standout performances came from Carlos Sainz, who took a stunning third place in a Williams car not expected to excel in wet conditions. The Spaniard was investigated for an unsafe rejoin earlier in the session, but was cleared with no further action.
Behind the top five, the Racing Bulls delivered an impressive showing with Liam Lawson sixth and rookie Isack Hadjar eighth, split by Fernando Alonso in seventh. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Alpine’s Pierre Gasly rounded out the top 10.
Hamilton’s Qualifying Disaster: “Very Slippery, No Grip”
Lewis Hamilton suffered his worst qualifying result of his career as he struggled from the very first lap. Unable to generate temperature in his Ferrari’s tyres, he finished nearly four seconds slower than Russell’s Mercedes in Q1.
“It was extremely slippery,” Hamilton said. “The first set of tyres didn’t work, and I just couldn’t get the heat into them. The team gave me a great car in FP3, but the rain completely changed the conditions.”
With overtaking expected to be challenging around the partially renewed circuit, Hamilton faces a difficult recovery drive in the race.
Las Vegas Grand Prix Qualifying – Top 10 Results
- Lando Norris (McLaren)
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
- Carlos Sainz (Williams)
- George Russell (Mercedes)
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
- Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls)
- Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
- Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls)
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
- Pierre Gasly (Alpine)
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