Lando Norris described securing pole position for the Las Vegas Grand Prix as “stressful as hell” but a crucial step in his pursuit of the world championship. Navigating a wet and challenging qualifying session on the iconic Las Vegas Strip, Norris edged out Max Verstappen by 0.323 seconds, showcasing his skill and composure under pressure.
Oscar Piastri, Norris’ closest championship rival and McLaren teammate, managed only fifth place, while Carlos Sainz impressively earned third for Williams, and Mercedes’ George Russell followed in fourth. Meanwhile, Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton endured a dismal qualifying session, finishing last in 20th, adding to a frustrating debut season with the Scuderia.
Norris currently leads Piastri by 24 points and Verstappen by 49 in the standings, with 83 points still available over the final three races. Starting from pole here gives Norris an excellent opportunity to extend his lead, with the possibility of clinching the title as early as next weekend’s Qatar Grand Prix.
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The 26-year-old Englishman, who recently won from pole in Mexico and Brazil, delivered another commanding performance, clocking a lap that was one second faster than his struggling teammate Piastri in the tricky wet conditions.
“I had a nap before qualifying and woke up expecting dry track, but it was wet,” Norris recalled. “I thought, ‘Oh crap, this is not going well.’ It’s so easy to crash out in these conditions, so getting pole is very rewarding. It was stressful as hell — the track is slippery, and hitting the kerbs can snap the car — but it was good enough for P1. The pace has been strong all weekend, and I didn’t expect to be this quick in the wet. It’s going to be an interesting race with Max up there, and hopefully we can have a good battle.”
Lewis Hamilton’s struggles continued as he failed to find any rhythm, qualifying almost four seconds slower than teammate George Russell in Q1 and 2.3 seconds behind fellow Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc. This marks one of Hamilton’s poorest qualifying performances during his 19-season career.
“I couldn’t get the tyres to work,” a disappointed Hamilton admitted as he returned to the pits. His difficult season intensified after Ferrari chairman John Elkann publicly urged him to “talk less and focus more on his driving” just days earlier.
Aside from a sprint race win in China, Hamilton’s switch to Ferrari has been plagued with setbacks, including being knocked out in Q2 in Brazil and retiring early after a first-lap collision with Franco Colapinto. Currently, Hamilton trails Leclerc by 66 points and appears visibly shaken after another challenging qualifying effort; he will start Saturday’s race from 20th, with Leclerc in ninth.
Hamilton summarized his mood candidly: “I don’t really have an answer. It obviously feels horrible; it doesn’t feel good. I just have to let it go and try to come back tomorrow. I’ve done everything I could in preparation. We were quick in practice, but to qualify 20th is tough. This year is definitely the hardest of my career. We have a fast car, but coming back from last place will be really difficult.”
As the championship battle intensifies, Norris’s pole position in Las Vegas signals his readiness to capitalize on every opportunity in pursuit of the title.