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Lando Norris tamed treacherous wet conditions to claim a stunning pole position for a Las Vegas Grand Prix in which he could move one further big step closer towards F1’s world title.
After a downpour ahead of qualifying had left an already-slippery Las Vegas Strip Circuit absolutely sodden, with rain continuing to fall into the first knockout session, the in-form Norris ultimately came to the fore when it mattered most on a drying track on intermediate tyres in Q3.
McLaren team-mate and main title rival Oscar Piastri was only fifth.
Pole position changed hands three times after the chequered flag with Williams’ Carlos Sainz and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen briefly taking top spot for themselves in turn before the superb Norris beat the latter’s time by 0.3s with a 1:47.934 despite a big slide in his McLaren in the final corners.
Verstappen took second ahead of Sainz, who faces a post-session investigation for an alleged earlier rules infringement, with Mercedes’ George Russell beating Piastri to fourth.
Piastri trails Norris by 24 points in the championship, with Verstappen 49 points back. Only 58 points will remain across the season’s final two events over the next fortnight after Sunday’s race on the Las Vegas Strip.
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Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton was eliminated in Q1 of the Las Vegas Grand Prix after finishing last.
Lewis Hamilton qualified 20th and last in a new low for his difficult first season at Ferrari with the seven-time champion struggling for grip in a particularly-treacherous Q1.
Hamilton was joined in early elimination by Williams’ Alex Albon, who damaged his car against the wall, Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli and Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda.
With Charles Leclerc struggling to ninth in the sole-remaining Ferrari in Q3, Racing Bulls cashed in on the struggles of some of the grid’s bigger names to take sixth with Liam Lawson and eighth with Isack Hadjar.
Fernando Alonso was seventh for Aston Martin, while Pierre Gasly continued a fine weekend so far for Alpine in 10th.
More to follow…
Sky Sports F1’s Las Vegas GP schedule
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Look back at some of the most dramatic moments to have taken place at the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
Sunday November 23
12.15am: F1 Academy Race Two
2.30am: Grand Prix Sunday: Las Vegas GP build-up*
4am: THE LAS VEGAS GRAND PRIX*
6am: Chequered Flag: Las Vegas GP reaction*
7am: Ted’s Notebook*
*also live on Sky Sports Main Event
Formula 1’s thrilling title race continues with the Las Vegas Grand Prix this weekend, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime
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