Lando Norris of the UK drives the (4) McLaren F1 Team MCL39 Mercedes during the Formula 1 Heineken Las Vegas Grand Prix 2025 in Las Vegas Strip Circuit, Nevada, USA, on November 21, 2025. (Photo by Stefano Facchin/Alessio Morgese/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
NurPhoto via Getty Images
Lando Norris of McLaren mastered the treacherous conditions to secure pole position for the Las Vegas Grand Prix, moving one step closer to his maiden world title.
The current championship leader clocked a lap time of 1m 47.934s to score his third consecutive pole this season at a circuit that has not favored the Woking outfit in the past.
The Briton went nearly three-tenths quicker than Red Bull’s Max Verstappen who has a critical race ahead, needing to avoid losing nine points or more to Norris to stay mathematically in the title conversation.
Carlos Sainz pulled off a strong performance to secure third place for Williams ahead of Mercedes’ George Russell, who had topped both Q1 and Q2.
Oscar Piastri in the other McLaren could only manage fifth place, leaving him with work to do tonight to avoid complicating his title bid further. The Australian currently trails Norris by 24 points in the standings, with Verstappen 49 points back.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – NOVEMBER 21: Pole position qualifier Lando Norris of Great Britain and McLaren Second placed qualifier Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing and Third placed qualifier Carlos Sainz of Spain and Williams during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Las Vegas at Las Vegas Strip Circuit on November 21, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jordan McKean – Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images)
Formula 1 via Getty ImagesForbesF1 Standings Ahead Of The 2025 Las Vegas Grand PrixBy Yara Elshebiny
Further down, Racing Bulls’ duo of Liam Lawson and Isack Hadjar put on strong performances to secure sixth and eighth respectively, with Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin sandwiched between them in seventh. Charles Leclerc could only secure ninth for Ferrari, while Alpine’s Pierre Gasly rounded out the top ten.
Elsewhere, Lewis Hamilton suffered a new low in his first year with the Scuderia, qualifying 20th and last after struggling for grip during the first qualifying segment.
This marked the first time in the world champion’s 19-year F1 career that he qualified dead last based on pure pace, and it happened at the circuit where he last secured a podium finish 12 months ago.
Mercedes’ Andrea Kimi Antonelli had a disappointing day too, struggling in the wet Q1 segment and settling for a lowly 17th despite showing promise early on.
ForbesWhat Time Is The 2025 F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix? Here’s How To WatchBy Yara ElshebinyStarting Grid For The 2025 Las Vegas Grand Prix
Here’s the starting order for Saturday’s race in Las Vegas:
Lando Norris (McLaren): 1:47.934Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing): +0.323Carlos Sainz (Williams): +0.362George Russell (Mercedes): +0.869Oscar Piastri (McLaren): +1.027Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls): +1.128Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin): +1.532Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls): +1.620Charles Leclerc (Ferrari): +1.938Pierre Gasly (Alpine): +3.606Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber)Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)Esteban Ocon (Haas)Oliver Bearman (Haas)Franco Colapinto (Alpine)Alexander Albon (Williams)Andrea Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber)Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull Racing)Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
The Las Vegas Grand Prix race starts at 8 p.m. local time (PST) on Saturday, November 22.