Formula 1 championship leader Lando Norris mastered the wet qualifying conditions to seize F1 Las Vegas GP pole position from title rival Max Verstappen by just 0.323 seconds.
The McLaren driver managed to deliver a stunning lap time of 1:47.934 to claim his third consecutive pole despite a dramatic slide in the final corners of his lap that luckily did not interfere with his momentum.
The 2025 F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix qualifying unfolded as one of the most thrilling and challenging of the season, dominated by wet and treacherous conditions that tested the skill and bravery of all 20 drivers under the dazzling lights of the Las Vegas Strip.
A heavy rain shower prior to the session had soaked the circuit, turning the track into a slippery and unpredictable battleground that demanded precision on intermediate tyres.
Albon crashes, Hamilton eliminated in last place
In Q1, the rain was at its heaviest, creating an extremely wet surface that caught many drivers out and led to slower lap times across the board.
The treacherous track conditions compounded by poor visibility later claimed the first victim in form of Alex Albon who hit the wall on the exit of Turn 16, crushing his hopes of making it into Q2 after having just set a purple first sector and a competitive middle sector.
George Russell was fastest at this stage ahead of Verstappen and Fernando Alonso with Norris only managing 13th fastest.
Albon was eliminated alongside Kimi Antonelli, Gabriel Bortoleto and Yuki Tsunoda who were unable to find enough improvement.
Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton suffered a surprising setback after running into a track bollard at Turn 14 on his penultimate lap which left him in 20th and last in Q1, marking his lowest qualifying result in recent memory and a stark contrast to his typical performances.
Full 2025 F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix Qualifying Results
George Russell tops final F1 Las Vegas GP practice, both McLarens last
Russell tops Q2
As the session progressed into Q2, the rain began to stop but the track conditions remained tricky.
Aston Martin took a gamble by calling in Lance Stroll for a switch to intermediate tires, but being the only driver to do so the risk did not pay off, leaving the Canadian in 12th.
Russell went fastest in Q2, followed by Isack Hadjar, Oscar Piastri, Carlos Sainz and Lando Norris who climbed to fifth fastest.
Meanwhile, Stroll was eliminated alongside Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg, Haas drivers Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman, with Alpine’s Franco Colapinto taking 15th after his best lap was hindered by a slide at Turn 15.
Norris beats Verstappen in final qualifying shootout
Q3 unfolded on a track that was still damp but drying quickly, presenting a high-risk, high-reward scenario for all drivers.
Teams opted for intermediate tyres, as slicks would have been too risky and full wets too slow on the drying asphalt.
The final F1 Las Vegas GP pole shootout saw the lead change hands multiple times, with Williams’ Carlos Sainz briefly holding the top spot, followed by Max Verstappen who also took over briefly.
However, Norris managed to find another gear in his last flying lap, becoming the only driver to break the 1:48 barrier. Despite a big slide in the final corners of his lap that would have cost him dearly, his time was enough to dethrone reigning world champion from pole position by just 0.323 seconds.
Carlos Sainz secured a surprise third for Williams, followed by Mercedes’ George Russell and McLaren’s Oscar Piastri who qualified fourth and fifth, respectively.
Racing Bulls pair Liam Lawson and Isack Hadjar qualified in sixth and eighth with Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso splitting the duo in seventh. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Alpine’s Pierre Gasly completed the top ten.
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