Lando Norris claims Las Vegas Grand Prix pole in challenging wet conditions
22nd November 2025McLaren’s Lando Norris snatched pole position for the Las Vegas Grand Prix, pipping Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, in treacherous conditions as qualifying saw both wet compounds being used.
Feature image credit: Getty Images // Red Bull Content Pool
It was a wet start to the qualifying session as the rain had continued to fall at the start of the qualifying session. As such, there was a mix of tyre compounds. Both Aston Martins and Kick Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto opted for the wet tyres, whilst the rest opted for the intermediates.
As many drivers aquaplanned on the circuit, due to the heavy rain, the intermediate runners quickly boxed for the full wet tyres. It became the primary tyre for Q1 and Q2. However, the conditions improved to become suitable for the intermediates, the primary tyre selected for the top 10 shootout.
In the first two qualifying thirds, Mercedes’ George Russell topped the timing boards, but in the shootout for pole position, it was the championship leader, Norris, who stole the top spot for the grand prix. The Briton qualified higher than his championship rival, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who qualified second.
Williams Carlos Sainz qualified third, but his position is at risk as he is set to be investigated by the stewards for rejoining the circuit unsafely earlier on in Q1. Replays showed that Sainz had run into the run-off at turn five and returned to the circuit ahead of Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll, compromising the Canadian’s line into the corner.
Norris’ final championship contender, and teammate, Oscar Piastri, could only best fifth fastest as the Australian was forced to use the run off late on in Q3 at turn 12 after Racing Bull’s Isack Hadjar attempted a move into the corner, heading towards the Las Vegas Strip.
The stewards checked this a deemed no further action would be taken.
Additionally, there was a big name shock at the beginning of qualifying as Lewis Hamilton struggled to get his tyres working in Q1 and found himself eliminated in the first third of the session, and last of the running drivers.
The seven-time world champion is set to start 20th behind Red Bull Racing’s Yuki Tsunoda, who will start 19th.
The Las Vegas Grand Prix will get underway on Saturday night, 8pm local time, but Sunday morning for UK fans, 4am GMT.
Read more Formula 1 here:
- George Russell tops final Las Vegas Grand Prix practice in changing conditions
- Ferrari confirm ‘steering wheel problem’ as Leclerc retired from Las Vegas FP2
- Lando Norris tops Las Vegas FP2 after red flag end due to maintenance
- Charles Leclerc tops first Las Vegas Grand Prix practice as turn 12 strikes many
- F1 teams bringing special liveries to Las Vegas Grand Prix
- Las Vegas GP Preview: Championship fight continues in Sin City ahead of final three races
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Hi, I’m Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion.
I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I’ve loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.
Kamron Kent
Hi, I'm Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion. I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I've loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.
