Norris takes pole in wet Las Vegas 2025 Qualifying thriller

Lando Norris mastered the treacherous wet conditions under the Las Vegas lights to take a crucial pole position for McLaren, strengthening his grip on the 2025 Formula 1 World Championship fight. The Briton’s 1:47.934 lap was 0.323s clear of Max Verstappen, with Carlos Sainz delivering a standout performance to put his Williams third. George Russell will start fourth for Mercedes, while Norris’s title rival Oscar Piastri could only manage fifth after a disrupted final run.

Qualifying Recap – Las Vegas Grand Prix 2025

Q1 – Big names fall early

The session began on a soaked Las Vegas Strip Circuit, with a mix of full wets and intermediates as teams gambled on tyre choice. Aston Martin and Kick Sauber opted for full wets, while most others started on inters. Grip was scarce, aquaplaning was common, and yellow flags were frequent.

Lewis Hamilton, a proven wet-weather specialist, suffered a shock exit in P20 after struggling with grip and possibly carrying debris under the car. He was joined by Alex Albon, Kimi Antonelli, Gabriel Bortoleto, and Yuki Tsunoda in the drop zone. Ollie Bearman clipped the barriers but continued, while Albon’s contact with the wall ended his hopes.

Eliminated in Q1: Albon, Antonelli, Bortoleto, Tsunoda, Hamilton.

Q2 – Stroll’s gamble fails

With the rain easing but the track still wet, most drivers stayed on wets. Lance Stroll rolled the dice on intermediates, hoping for three push laps, but the gamble backfired. Pierre Gasly scraped through to Q3 at Hulkenberg’s expense, while Esteban Ocon, Bearman, and Franco Colapinto also fell short.

Carlos Sainz impressed again, topping the times ahead of Verstappen, while Piastri only just survived in P10.

Eliminated in Q2: Hulkenberg, Stroll, Ocon, Bearman, Colapinto.

Q3 – Norris delivers under pressure

The final segment saw all drivers on intermediates as the track improved rapidly. Early laps shuffled the order, with Sainz briefly on provisional pole before Verstappen edged ahead by 0.039s. Norris, however, was on a charge, going purple in the first two sectors and crossing the line with a lap that no one could match.

Piastri’s final attempt was compromised, either by a mistake or yellow flags from Leclerc running wide. The Australian ended up fifth, behind Russell in fourth. Liam Lawson continued his strong weekend with sixth, ahead of Fernando Alonso, Isack Hadjar, Charles Leclerc, and Pierre Gasly.

Top 10:

Norris (McLaren) – 1:47.934
Verstappen (Red Bull) +0.323
Sainz (Williams) +0.362
Russell (Mercedes) +0.869
Piastri (McLaren) +1.027
Lawson (Racing Bulls) +1.128
Alonso (Aston Martin) +1.532
Hadjar (Racing Bulls) +1.620
Leclerc (Ferrari) +1.938
Gasly (Alpine) +3.606

Key Moments and Incidents

Hamilton’s shock Q1 exit: The seven-time champion aborted his final lap, ending up last on the grid.
Bearman’s barrier kiss: A lock-up sent him into the wall, but he continued after a front wing change.
Stroll’s tyre gamble: Switching to inters in Q2 cost him a shot at Q3.
Sainz under investigation: The Williams driver was noted for an unsafe rejoin in Q2 after running wide in front of Stroll, but no penalty was issued before the end of qualifying.
Piastri vs Hadjar: A Turn 12 incident in Q3 was reviewed with no further action.

Analysis – Championship implications

Norris’s pole is a significant blow to Piastri’s title hopes. Starting fifth, the Australian faces two fast cars – Verstappen and Russell – plus the in-form Sainz between himself and his teammate. With Norris already 24 points ahead, a strong race result could put him within touching distance of his maiden championship.

Verstappen’s front-row start is a major threat to McLaren’s plans. The Red Bull has been formidable at low-downforce venues, and if Sunday’s race is dry, the Dutchman could challenge Norris into Turn 1.

Sainz’s third place is arguably the performance of the day. Williams expected to be competitive here, but in mixed conditions, the Spaniard’s rallying pedigree shone through. He could be a wildcard in the fight for victory.

What to Expect in the Race

Weather watch: Forecasts suggest a dry race, but the track will be green after the wet qualifying.
Mixed grid: With Hamilton, Albon, and Antonelli starting deep in the pack, expect aggressive recovery drives.
Strategic battles: Tyre degradation on the 6.201 km street circuit could open up undercuts and overcuts, especially if safety cars intervene.
Championship tension: Norris will aim to control the race from the front, while Piastri must attack early to limit the damage.

Final Thoughts

The 2025 Las Vegas Grand Prix grid promises drama. Norris has the upper hand, but Verstappen and Sainz are poised to challenge. Piastri’s task is steep, and with a mixed-up order behind, Sunday night could deliver one of the season’s most pivotal races.

Lights out is at 20:00 local time (04:00 UTC) – and with the championship on the line, the Strip is set for a showdown.