Lando Norris ran through wet conditions to take F1 pole in Las Vegas GP, ahead of Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz.
Here’s mixed run in FP3 of F1 Las Vegas GP: https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/fp3-russell-goes-fastest-from-verstappen-and-albon-during-final-practice-in.6obkr2bsdkzJVvHfY2d5UH
Q1:
It was raining to start the first part of F1 Las Vegas GP qualifying under the floodlights. Most opted for the intermediate tyres apart from Aston Martin pair along with Sauber duo early on, with McLaren’s Oscar Piastri waiting before to join in finally on the blue-walled tyres.
With the conditions only worsening, most dived into the pits to switch to full wets, with Williams and Ferrari finally going for it as well. The yellow flag mayhem continued through the session and times continued to tumble on until the chequered flag was waved.
It was Mercedes’ George Russell on top with a 1m53.144s lap ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso in the Top 3. A late off for Haas’ Oliver Bearman caught out multiple drivers, with the Brit unable to stop the car and tap the barrier.
He was able to rejoin but not long it took Williams’ Alexander Albon to eventually hit the wall and dive into the pits with broken suspension on front-right. He was knocked out in 16th with 1m56.220s lap as his off took Mercedes’ Andrea Kimi Antonelli (1m56.314s) out in 17th.
He was improving but was forced to pit at the end of the lap. Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto (1m56.674s) was 18th from Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda (1m56.798s) and Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton (1m57.115s), with the Brit behind Bearman and Albon in his final push to get out of Q1.
Q2:
The start of second part in F1 Las Vegas GP qualifying was delayed to clean-up and repairs to barrier. It was full wets for all but Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll went for intermediates for his final run. It was Russell again on top with a 1m50.953s lap on his last attempt.
Visa Cash App RB’s Isack Hadjar was second from Williams’ Carlos Sainz in the Top 3. A late push from Alpine’s Pierre Gasly dropped Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg (1m52.781s) to 11th and out of Q2, with the Frenchman in the Top 10. Stroll (1m52.850s) was ultimately 12th on the gamble he did.
Haas’ Esteban Ocon (1m52.987s) was 13th from Bearman (1m53.094s), with Alpine’s Franco Colapinto (1m53.683s) in 15th after a moment on his final lap which hampered his run. Replays showed tyre cover coming loose for Bearman towards the end of the session.
Q3:
The field opted for intermediate tyres to start the final part of F1 qualifying in Las Vegas GP. It was fuel for the full session as Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc had a moment in the middle of the run to kill his chances of a good lap. There was also a moment for Hadjar on one of the laps.
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri went to the top midway in the session after a 1m49.136s lap ahead of Sainz and Norris in the Top 3. The Brit improved to 1m48.384s lap to take provisional pole, with about two minutes to go. Sainz managed to improve to P1 with a 1m48.296s.
But Verstappen stepped up with a 1m48.257s. However, Norris upped his pace to set a 1m47.934s lap to take F1 pole in Las Vegas GP in tricky conditions to drop Verstappen to second and Sainz was third. Russell ended up fourth after his 1m48.803s lap after topping Q1 and Q2.
Piastri (1m48.961s) could only manage fifth after mistake on his final attempt. Replays showed him going wheel-to-wheel with a Visa Cash App RB car into Turn 12 which hurt his chances. It was Liam Lawson (1m49.062s) in good space in sixth from Alonso (1m49.466s).
Hadjar ended up eighth in the end with a 1m49.554s lap, as Leclerc (149.872s) could only manage ninth after his moment at Turn 12 on the final lap, as Gasly (1m51.540s) rounded the Top 10.
Summons, Mercedes (for both): https://x.com/fia/status/1992099915506270567?s=20
Carlos Sainz: https://x.com/fia/status/1992099841179095378?s=20
Alpine: https://x.com/fia/status/1992099649021182362?s=20
UPDATE: Mercedes were let go after it was found that the F1 team did send the setup document to the FIA but it was received on time by the stewards. Here: https://x.com/fia/status/1992112787938496520?s=20
Sainz was let off in unsafe rejoin against Stroll in Q1 after the Canadian said it was not unsafe. Here: https://x.com/fia/status/1992121716907073612?s=20
The stewards fined Alpine of 5000 euros after they returned Colapinto’s tyres post FP3, but did not electronically lodge the return. Here: https://x.com/fia/status/1992123094517899656?s=20
Here’s what was said after Friday in F1 Las Vegas GP
