F1 | Qualifying | Las Vegas GP | Norris to pole in hectic wet session - Motorsport

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After rain already had affected the final practice for the Las Vegas GP, F1 qualifying started off under wet conditions. Add to that the low nighttime temperatures and general low grip of the street track, and qualifying promised to be an interesting session. Full report and results below.

Q1: Shock exit for Lewis Hamilton

The first drivers out on track all donned the intermediates, except the Aston Martin drivers. Gabriel Bortoleto joined them, with the rest on intermediates for the time being. Oscar Piastri joins the wet-tyre shod drivers as a few drivers box to swap to the wets as well.

Multiple yellow flags come out as drivers have a few trips down the escape roads, as Fernando Alonso sets the first time just north of the two-minute mark. This prompts the rest of the field to switch to the full wets as well.

Visibility now also becoming an issue, with multiple drivers driving in eachother’s spray, it is Lance Stroll on the top with a 2:00.067.

Times start to come down as Max Verstappen is just in the top 15, as Gasly goes forst before Alonso retakes the first. Verstappen’s time in the has been deleted, which means he is the only one without a time. When he does set a time he goes to fifth for the moment.

With Carlos Sainz now on top with 1:55.659, it is clear that the times are improving quickly, meaning everyone needs to keep driving.

Verstappen is the next to go to the top as Norris lights up the timing sheets en route to P3. Leclerc goes to the top of the timing sheets. Ollie Bearman cannot stop his car at turn 14, meaning he taps the barrier, bringing out another yellow.

First real victim of the conditions is Alex Albon, who has a snap of oversteer coming out of turn 16 and hits the wall. He got to the pits, but his qualifying is over.

As the chequered flag drops, Lewis Hamilton just manages to get a new lap started. Unfortunately he cannot improve, meaning the seven-time champion is last and out.

Eliminated from Q1:

Alex Albon
Andrea Kimi Antonelli
Gabriel Bortoleto
Yuki Tsunoda
Lewis Hamilton

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc during qualifying for the F1 Las Vegas GP — Photo credit: Scuderia Ferrari – X

Q2: Russell starting to find his mojo in the wet

Second part of qualifying for the F1 Las Vegas GP was kicked off by Lando Norris who queued up first. Tyre of choice was still the full wet for the entire field. The rain has stopped though, meaning a dry line could be forming quickly.

Norris starts the session with a 1:53.302, which cannot be bested by anyone during the first runs. During the second runs however Stroll goes to the top, before being topped by Verstappen.

Next up top is Piastri, by 13 one-thousands of a second, as Norris stays in sixth. Liam Lawson improves the best time by more than half a second.

Multiple drivers struggle to get either the power down or brake properly, bringing out multiple short-lived yellow flags.

Isack Hadjar shortly takes P1 before his rumoured team mate of next year Verstappen takes the top spot. Sainz however quickly demotes both a place.

Norris goes to the top from P8 as Franco Colapinto has an enormous powerslide. He keps it out of the wall however.

Verstappen fails to slow down enough for the final corner, ending a shot at first place. Russell does make that shot to the top, while at the rear-end of the top 10 the battle is between Gasly and Nico Hülkenberg. The German driver cannot find an improvement, leaving him vulnerable for Gasly. The Frenchman has to correct five times coming out of the last corner, but goes seventh and pips Hülkenberg.

Eliminated from Q2:

Nico Hülkenberg
Lance Stroll
Esteban Ocon
Ollie Bearman
Franco Colapinto

Red Bull Racing's Max Verstappen focusing during qualifying for the F1 Las Vegas GP — Photo credit: Red Bull Racing – X

Q3: Norris storms to pole

For Q3 the tyre of choice is the intermediate, as most of the water has been dispersed by the wets. Leclerc is the first one to start a timed lap, but it is Sainz who takes the top after the first round of flying laps.

Attempt two for Leclerc results in a lock-up into turn 14, as both McLarens manage to get ahead of Sainz for the moment. Verstappen does not seem to be able to get the intermediates fired up quite yet.

Next time around Verstappen goes second, under a tenth behind Piastri. Norris has a great run as well, as he goes to the top with over seven tenths.

Times keep improving as the chequered flag hangs out. First Sainz goes to the top, then Verstappen. Russell only manages fourth. Norris has an absolute flyer, but cannot manage to get the power down out of turn 16. He has enough of a margin however, meaning he grabs pole by more than three tenths at the end.