In a dramatic qualifying session for the Las Vegas Grand Prix, McLaren’s Lando Norris secured the top spot on the starting grid. The session was held in challenging wet conditions, testing the skills of all the drivers.
Norris’s fastest lap edged out Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who will start in second place. The difference between their times was just 0.323 seconds. Williams driver Carlos Sainz surprised many by qualifying third, followed by Mercedes’ George Russell in fourth. Norris’s McLaren teammate, Oscar Piastri, finished fifth.
The rain made the track very slippery, and drivers described it as feeling like driving on ice. Visibility was also poor due to the spray from the cars ahead. Despite these difficulties, the qualifying session was completed without any major incidents or red flags.
Norris admitted the session was “stressful” due to the tricky conditions. He explained that the track was so wet that it felt like he could crash on every corner. However, he managed to put together a strong lap when it mattered most, earning him his third consecutive pole position.
Verstappen, who is known for his wet-weather driving skills, acknowledged that he wasn’t quite able to match Norris’s pace in these conditions. He added that it felt “more like driving on ice.” Nevertheless, he expressed optimism for the race, hoping that the starting position on the inside of the track will provide good grip.
Sainz’s third-place qualifying result was particularly impressive, as his car was not expected to perform well in the wet. He briefly faced an investigation for rejoining the track in an unsafe manner but was later cleared by race officials.
Behind Piastri, Liam Lawson and Isack Hadjar of Racing Bulls secured sixth and eighth positions, respectively. Fernando Alonso, driving for Aston Martin, qualified seventh. Rounding out the top ten were Charles Leclerc of Ferrari and Pierre Gasly of Alpine.
Lewis Hamilton, a seven-time world champion, had a difficult session and will start the race from 20th position. He struggled to get his tires to work properly in the wet conditions and was eliminated in the first qualifying session. Hamilton said that the car felt good in earlier practice but that he struggled with tire temperature in the rain.
The race promises to be exciting, with Norris starting in the lead but facing strong competition from Verstappen and other drivers who performed well in the challenging qualifying session. The unpredictable weather conditions could also play a role in the outcome of the race.
Qualifying Results – Top 10
- 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)
