Las Vegas GP: Leclerc lights up the Strip to claim pole

Star InactiveStar InactiveStar InactiveStar InactiveStar Inactive
 

Charles Leclerc delivered a dominant performance to claim pole position for the Las Vegas Grand Prix.

The Monegasque led all three segments of qualifying on the Strip as Ferrari proved too strong for the competition over a single lap.

Carlos Sainz took second, missing out by just 0.044s, but will drop to 12th, promoting Max Verstappen onto the front row for the race.

Q1

Evolution was the theme of Q1 as drivers completed several flying laps on a single run and improved on each occasion.

Leclerc ultimately finished fastest with a 1m33.6s, two-tenths clear of Sainz in the sister Ferrari.

Further down, both McLarens were knocked out in the late dash as Lando Norris missed out by just 0.02s in 16th and Oscar Piastri down in 19th.

Esteban Ocon joined them in 17th after an unexpected battle with Verstappen through Turn 1.

Zhou Guanyu was 18th and Yuki Tsunoda was slowest overall in the AlphaTauri.

Q2

The two Ferraris continued to lead the way in Q2 as Leclerc became the first driver into the 1m32s to lead Sainz by half a second.

There were more surprises in the knockout zone though with Lewis Hamilton eliminated in 11th after a flurry of late fast laps.

Sergio Perez rued pitting earlier than most as he dropped to 12th in the Red Bull.

Nico Hulkenberg took 13th, ahead of Lance Stroll, who will drop five places, and Daniel Ricciardo in 15th. 

Q3

Only 0.083s covered the two Ferraris and Verstappen after the first runs with Leclerc remaining on top.

The Monegasque went faster again on his second lap, posting a 1m32.726s to clinch pole by just 0.044s from Sainz.

Verstappen couldn't improve on his final run in third, but will start P2 after Sainz's 10-place grid penalty for new power unit components.

George Russell took fourth for Mercedes as Pierre Gasly jumped upto fifth with the final lap of the session.

The two Williams' were sixth and seventh with Alex Albon leading teammate Logan Sargeant.

Valtteri Bottas was eighth, ahead of Kevin Magnussen and Fernando Alonso rounded out the top 10.

 

 

         

 

 

Search