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Norris claims third straight pole in chaotic Las Vegas qualifying
McLaren's Lando Norris dominated a rain-soaked qualifying session for the Las Vegas Grand Prix, securing his third consecutive pole position ahead of Red Bull's Max Verstappen and Williams' Carlos Sainz. The Briton's performance extends his championship lead over teammate Oscar Piastri, who qualified fifth, to a potential 39-point advantage if results hold in Sunday's race.
Norris outpaced Verstappen by 0.323 seconds in treacherous conditions, with visibility near zero and the track slick enough to require extreme wet tires for most of the session. Mercedes' George Russell took fourth, while seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton-competing for Ferrari-suffered a shocking elimination in Q1, qualifying 20th after failing to generate tire temperature.
"It was stressful as hell. I didn't know no-one else would get a lap after me. The first two sectors were good. As soon as you hit the kerb a little bit wrong, it's tricky-it snapped one way and then the other."
Lando Norris, McLaren
Verstappen remains a threat despite wet-weather struggles
Max Verstappen, typically dominant in wet conditions, admitted he lacked Norris' pace on intermediate tires in Q3. The Dutchman, still mathematically in title contention, settled for second on the grid but remains a danger off the line, known for his aggressive race starts.
Verstappen described the session as "more like driving on ice" but expressed optimism for Sunday's race, scheduled for 04:00 GMT. "We were not quite competitive enough to fight for pole, but second is still good," he said, noting his Red Bull's relative strength on extreme wet tires earlier in qualifying.
Piastri hindered by yellow flag as Sainz shines for Williams
Oscar Piastri, Norris' closest championship rival, saw his final flying lap disrupted by a yellow flag caused by Norris' kerb-induced wobble through Turns 14-16. The Australian, who trails Norris by 24 points with three races remaining, qualified fifth but remained upbeat.
"There was more out there that we didn't get to use. We've got a good car underneath us that seems to be working well in all conditions, so we can have a strong race tomorrow."
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Carlos Sainz delivered a standout performance for Williams, securing third on the grid in a car not expected to excel in wet conditions. The Spaniard survived a stewards' investigation for unsafe track rejoining in Q1 without penalty.
Hamilton's historic low as Ferrari struggles with tire temperatures
Lewis Hamilton endured the worst qualifying of his career, eliminated in Q1 for the first time ever. The seven-time champion, nearly four seconds slower than Mercedes' George Russell, blamed an inability to generate tire heat in the cold, damp conditions.
"It was very slippery, and the first set of tires didn't work for us. I just struggled to generate the heat in the tires for some reason. It's a shame because the car was feeling awesome in FP3."
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Hamilton's teammate Charles Leclerc fared little better, qualifying ninth, while Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso split the Racing Bulls of Liam Lawson (sixth) and Isack Hadjar (eighth). Pierre Gasly rounded out the top 10 for Alpine.
Race implications: Norris' title charge gains momentum
Should Norris and Piastri finish where they start, the Briton's championship lead would extend to 39 points with two races remaining-a near-insurmountable gap. Verstappen, 61 points behind Norris, would need a race win and significant misfortune for both McLarens to stay in contention.
The Las Vegas Grand Prix, set for 04:00 GMT Sunday, marks the penultimate round of the season. With Norris' McLaren excelling in mixed conditions and Piastri's race pace a known strength, the stage is set for a pivotal showdown under the lights.
Final qualifying order
- Lando Norris (McLaren)
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
- Carlos Sainz (Williams)
- George Russell (Mercedes)
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
- Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls)
- Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
- Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls)
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
- Pierre Gasly (Alpine)
