F1 – Lando Norris Conquers Wet Chaos to Take Stunning Las Vegas Pole

The fight for pole ended with Lando Norris rising above the chaos as he claimed the Las Vegas pole, mastering treacherous wet conditions and edging Max Verstappen by 0.323s in a dramatic qualifying session.

Norris Strikes Late in Rapidly Improving Conditions

Norris fought through early struggles after barely escaping Q1 in 13th place. Track grip changed constantly as rain eased, yet he stayed composed and waited for the final opportunity.

His first Q3 run pushed him seven tenths clear before Verstappen responded with a strong 1:48.257 that briefly secured provisional pole. Norris crossed the line in time for one final lap, delivering two purple sectors before a slide at the final corners almost derailed the attempt. Despite the scare, he still posted a lap 0.323s quicker than Verstappen.

Early Laps Defined by Heavy Rain and Full Wet Tyres

Most drivers began Q1 on Intermediates, but several cars aquaplaned off the racing line as standing water increased. The field quickly switched to full wet tyres as the track demanded caution and precise timing.

George Russell produced the standout Q1 lap with a 1:53.144, beating Verstappen by three tenths. Fernando Alonso followed in third, while Norris narrowly progressed in P13 after struggling to generate tyre temperature.

Conditions Catch Out Big Names

The session proved punishing for several contenders. Alex Albon slid into the barriers and dropped out in 16th. Kimi Antonelli was eliminated in P17, with Gabriel Bortoleto, Yuki Tsunoda and Lewis Hamilton joining them after the seven-time champion failed to extract grip from the full wets.

Q2 Builds Momentum as Track Gradually Improves

Barrier repairs delayed the second session, allowing the surface to slowly improve. Full wets remained the choice, yet lap times fell quickly with every run.

Norris opened Q2 with a tidy 1:53.302 that led early. Verstappen replied with a 1:52.693 before Oscar Piastri edged ahead by 0.013s. Liam Lawson and Isack Hadjar briefly took P1 as the circuit evolved dramatically.

Russell closed Q2 on top with a 1:50.935, while Carlos Sainz surged late to join the frontrunners. Norris advanced in P4. Verstappen secured P5. Piastri scraped through in tenth, just ahead of Nico Hülkenberg. Lance Stroll, Esteban Ocon, Ollie Bearman and Franco Colapinto were eliminated.

Power, Pace and Precision in the Wet

The McLaren and Red Bull packages showed strong balance in the rain. Norris extracted sharp rotation and stability from his car during the key moments. Verstappen maintained competitive pace across sectors but lacked final-lap grip as the track evolved.

Summary

Norris delivered a commanding late lap to secure Las Vegas pole in an unpredictable wet qualifying session. Verstappen followed closely, while Sainz produced a standout drive to take third for Williams. The changing conditions rewarded commitment, and Norris seized the moment with confidence.