The qualifying weekend in Las Vegas turned into a real gamble: the practice sessions proved futile a dusty track, red flags, and a damp FP3 left teams without proper preparation. The leading drivers changed daily: Leclerc, Norris, then Russell.
An hour before qualifying, an unexpected downpour hit the circuit. Fans in the open grandstands were soaked but stayed to watch. In Q1, drivers were desperately searching for grip: the already slippery Vegas surface became a full ice rink under the water. Mistakes were constant, and in the closing moments Bearman and Albon slid into the barriers. Russell set the fastest time, while Albon, Antonelli, Bortoleto, Tsunoda and Hamilton were eliminated.
By the start of Q2 the rain had eased, but full wet tyres were still necessary. The track dried lap by lap, and once again Russell topped the timesheets. Hülkenberg, Stroll, Ocon, Bearman and Colapinto dropped out.
In Q3 everyone switched to intermediate tyres. The surface dried unevenly, and the fight for pole resembled a carousel: Piastri, Norris, Sainz and Verstappen all took turns at the top. But in the final attempt, Lando produced an unbeatable lap 1:47.934.
Norris secures a striking pole in Las Vegas his seventh of the season. He will start alongside Verstappen, with Sainz and Russell behind them, and Piastri and Lawson on the third row.
