George Russell grabs pole for the F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix from Carlos Sainz and a surprising Pierre Gasly, as Franco Colapinto crashes out of Q2.
Q1: Early exit for Pérez, again
After topping FP3 it was George Russell that first hit the track for qualifying, but Pierre Gasly was the first one to start a timed lap as Russell immediately returned to the pits to switch to the soft tyre. Gasly’s initial time of 1:43.773 shows warming the tyres properly will be crucial in this session. He is quickly bested by both Kick Saubers before going to the top with 1:34:509.
That time is beaten by Oscar Piastri with 1:34:058, who sees team mater Lando Norris and both Mercedes coming close, before championship leader Max Verstappen slots in in fifth.
Everyone’s second run shows clear improvements, as Charles Leclerc briefly goes first before both McLarens demote him to third with just under eight minutes to go. Next one to the top is Russell, as both Haas drivers and Lance Stroll haven’t set a competitive time yet with five minutes to go. The Canadian driver has an excuse though, as Aston Martin is still working to fix the car after his FP3 exit.
The team manages to get him out with just a few minutes to go as Verstappen goes to the top with 1:33.299. Team mate Sergio Pérez barely manages to escape the knock-out zone.
Lewis Hamilton goes to the top next as Russell lights up the timing screens and goes to the top. At the rear end Alexader Albon sees his time deleted for track limits, while Franco Colapinto and both RB’s escape being knocked-out, at the cost of Pérez. The Mexican driver is joined by Fernando Alonso, Albon, Valtteri Bottas and Lance Stroll.
Q2: Massive crash by Colapinto
Verstappen hits the track first for Q2, but it is Russell with the first competitive time, which quickly is topped by both Nico Hülkenberg and team mate Hamilton. Verstappen, Norris and Piastri all narrowly miss out on first place, with the young Ozzy coming just 0.001 seconds shy.
Times keep improving as Verstappen goes first with 1:33.085 before Russell demotes him to second. Hamilton manages to slot in between them, before Leclerc’s first competitive time puts him third for the moment. As Verstappen goes to the pits Norris improves to fifth with just over 2 minutes to go.
Zhou Guanyu and Carlos Sainz have a little kerfuffle coming onto the pit straight, compromising both their laps. Both Mercedes drivers go to the top, as Colapinto writes off his Williams in spectacular fashion. The young Argentine driver clips the inside of turn 16 in an effort to get into the top 10, and absolutely clobbers the concrete wall on the outside. The session is red flagged, but more importantly Colapinto is unharmed.
The crash excludes Esteban Ocon, Kevin Magnussen, Zhou, Colapinto and Liam Lawson, and logically the start of Q3.
Q3: Pole for Russell and surprise P3 for Gasly
Verstappen again lines up first for Q3, followed by both McLarens. With the track temperature having dropped a couple of degrees since the start of qualifying several drivers again opt to do multiple warm-up laps.
Piastri however doesn’t, and he goes to the top with 1:33.520, but is quickly bested by team mate Norris. Sainz takes over at the top with two purple sectors, almost hitting the 1:32-mark. Russell actually does hit that mark, going first with 1:32.811 as Hamilton goes straight on in turn 12.
All cars enter the pits before going out for the final showdown, as the replay shows Russell touched the wall coming out of turn 5.
First one to cross the flag is Piastri who goes third for the time being, with Norris going second just behind him. Next up is Leclerc, who goes first, but sees both Sainz and Gasly improve shortly after him. Hamilton only manages tenth after a little bit of oversteer in turn 3, while Verstappen salvages fourth for the time being. Last one on track is Russell, and the Briton steers his Mercedes to pole position with 1:32.312, just under one tenth in front of Sainz.
The top ten for the Las Vegas GP is then completed by Gasly in third, from Leclerc, Verstappen, Norris and Tsunoda. Piastri takes seventh, from Hülkenberg and Hamilton.
