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Norris claims Las Vegas pole in treacherous conditions
Lando Norris will start the Las Vegas Grand Prix from pole position after mastering chaotic wet conditions, finishing 0.323 seconds ahead of Red Bull's Max Verstappen in qualifying on Saturday. The McLaren driver's dominance-despite a near-miss through the final chicane-extends his championship lead to 24 points over teammate Oscar Piastri and 49 over Verstappen, though the Dutchman's aggressive racing style now poses an immediate threat off the line.
Norris, who has insisted all season on a "race-by-race" approach, admitted post-qualifying that the pressure of a potential title-deciding victory is creeping in. "I'm here to win," he declared, "not to play it safe." Yet with Verstappen-known for his cutthroat starts-alongside him on the front row, the Briton acknowledged the high-stakes calculus: "I expect a battle. Through the whole race."
The championship math: What's at stake in Sin City
A win on Sunday (race starts 04:00 GMT) would edge Norris closer to his first world title, potentially allowing him to clinch in Qatar next weekend with a race to spare. While Piastri's fifth-place grid slot complicates his comeback bid, Verstappen-though mathematically nearly out of contention-could still disrupt Norris' momentum. A nine-point swing in the Dutchman's favor would eliminate his own title chances, but his reputation for first-lap heroics (see: 2023's inaugural Vegas race, where he muscled past Charles Leclerc) looms large.
Norris' pole marks the eighth consecutive F1 race won from the top spot, matching a 1976 record. Yet his focus remains laser-sharp on execution: "Good start, good opening lap-that's the priority."
'Worst conditions I've driven in': Norris' slippery masterclass
The Las Vegas strip, already slick from regular road use, became a "shockingly slippery" gauntlet under rain, forcing drivers to rely on extreme-wet tires for two qualifying sessions. Norris called the conditions "some of the worst" he's faced, citing unpredictable grip, violent wheelspin, and locked tires on painted lines. His final lap-a "stunner" per McLaren team principal Andrea Stella-nearly unraveled in the chicane, but his 0.323s margin over Verstappen stood.
"The amount of wheelspin, how easy it was to lock tires-the white lines, the yellow lines-just everything was pretty tough. Some bits felt OK, some bits felt just shockingly slippery."
Lando Norris, on the treacherous track conditions
Piastri's fading title hopes: 'A lot can happen in Vegas'
Oscar Piastri, once the championship leader, now trails Norris by 24 points after back-to-back disasters in Mexico (lack of pace) and Brazil (sprint crash and a controversial penalty). In Las Vegas, a yellow flag on his final qualifying run relegated him to fifth-a bitter contrast to Norris' pole. Yet the Australian clung to optimism: "It's Las Vegas after all. A lot can happen."
Piastri's last win came at the Dutch Grand Prix on 31 August. Since then, his title challenge has unraveled, while Norris' consistency-bolstered by McLaren's strategic prudence-has flourished.
McLaren's measured approach: 'Clean race, smooth execution'
Team principal Andrea Stella, a veteran of Ferrari's title battles with Schumacher, Räikkönen, and Alonso, preached caution. "We take one race at a time," he said, emphasizing tire grip management in the cold opening laps and a "clean first lap" as keys to success. Stella's philosophy has steered McLaren to this pivotal moment-now, it's Norris' task to deliver under pressure.
"Lando has been doing this very well recently: smooth preparation, confident execution. We just need to express our potential without mistakes."
Andrea Stella, McLaren team principal
Key stats: Las Vegas Grand Prix
- Race start: 04:00 GMT (Sunday)
- Norris' championship lead: 24 pts over Piastri, 49 over Verstappen
- Pole margin: 0.323s over Verstappen
- Record chase: 8th straight win from pole (would tie 1976 F1 mark)
- Piastri's last win: Dutch GP (31 August 2025)
