Lando Norris will start from pole position in Las Vegas, immediately charging the race with tension. The McLaren driver leads the championship and has his title rivals Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri within striking distance. Verstappen will start alongside him on the front row, while Piastri will have to chase from the fifth position. The race begins at 03:00 UTC and could potentially be a decisive chapter in the title fight.
Behind the two men on the front row, there are notable shifts. Carlos Sainz clocked a surprising third time in the Williams, a boost in the wet and treacherous Las Vegas conditions. George Russell opens the second row for Mercedes and starts from fourth place in his pursuit of the podium. The most impressive performance from the midfield came from Liam Lawson. The New Zealander drove his RB to sixth place, outpacing experienced names. Fernando Alonso and talent Isack Hadjar complete the top eight.
On the other end of the spectrum, there were disappointments. Charles Leclerc fell short with the ninth time, Kimi Antonelli did not get further than seventeenth place, and Yuki Tsunoda ended up at P19. The biggest blow was at Ferrari, where Lewis Hamilton finished twentieth. It’s the first time since Abu Dhabi 2009 that a Ferrari starts from the back. This fact casts a shadow over an otherwise promising starting lineup as Las Vegas gears up for a thrilling race.
