Las Vegas Grand Prix: Qualifying Drama Redefines the Grid

The Las Vegas Grand Prix began with questions about pace and precision as teams tuned up on the new Strip circuit. The weekend spotlighted a handful of dramatic moments, notably at qualifying, where Charles Leclerc of Ferrari secured pole in a session filled with tight margins and fresh track grip. Despite Carlos Sainz’s strong run, a late penalty altered the starting grid, reshaping the order for the main race. The Madrid-born driver faced consequences after a Friday incident, elevating Leclerc to the top spot while Sainz dropped down the grid despite a performance that suggested high speed and consistency.

Fernando Alonso reached the Q3 phase but could not improve on his final run, leaving him eighth or ninth on the starting grid, depending on final recalculations. Max Verstappen appeared less aggressive than usual, finishing toward the front but not clinching pole. Sainz’s penalty, however, moved Verstappen into second position, altering the championship picture heading into Sunday’s race.

By order of Ferrari

Charles Leclerc took pole position, while Carlos Sainz began from a lower position due to the fine on Friday. Verstappen lined up second, with Fernando Alonso starting further back in the pack because of the penalty. The Las Vegas grid felt the impact of the sanction as teams prepared for a high-stakes race weekend in the desert.

Leclerc’s pole position confirmed Ferrari’s strong pace on the night, while Sainz, despite a strong showing, had to start well down the order because of penalties. The result kept the title battle tight and provided a dramatic setup for the race day.

— DAZN Spain coverage

— DAZN Spain commentary on the qualifying session reflected the volatile nature of street circuits where every mistake is costly and every lap time is measured to the thousandth of a second.

Q1: Double knockout for McLaren

Las Vegas smoke and street-slick tires created a demanding balance for teams. The circuit pushes the tires to their limits through high-speed sections and tight, braking-heavy corners. Ferrari led the early phase as Leclerc and Sainz posted quick times, racing at the front of the field while rivals chased.

The world standings in Formula One showed intense competition as the Q1 results began shaping the rest of the session. Both Ferrari drivers were the quickest on the track, dipping below the 1:34 barrier with strong laps. Verstappen took advantage of track evolution to tighten the competition, while Alonso grappled with a strong opening but found himself in a less favorable position as the laps expired.

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Close call for Verstappen as he flirted with the wall during a high-speed stretch. The Vegas atmosphere amplified the tension of every corner and straightaway.

Teammate Lance Stroll found himself penalized five places on the grid after Free Practice 3, but he still managed to secure a place in the next phase. Ocon and Zhou did not race in this stage. Tsunoda and two McLarens surprised the field, while Norris and Piastri — once the leading contenders for pole — were eliminated early.

S2: Pérez and Hamilton withdraw from fight

As the second quarter opened, Leclerc and Sainz began cautiously on used tires, while Alonso opted for fresh rubber. Sainz set the initial benchmark with a time of 1:33.146, and the pace suggested Ferrari’s dominance in the circuit’s maiden Las Vegas edition. Alonso immediately improved on that time, taking the lead with 1:33.880.

The second run showed Leclerc again fastest on the Strip, with the Monegasque still able to push further. Russell logged a solid third, while Sainz lagged by half a second. Alonso rose to fifth, signaling a strong Ferrari showing in the second phase of the session.

A breakthrough moment arrived when Hamilton and Pérez won’t start from pole positions with Hülkenberg, Stroll, and Ricciardo also out of the running for the Q3 berth. The seven-time world champion chose a different tire strategy, contributing to an unexpected outcome in the cut.

Sargeant and Bottas encountered issues and were forced out of contention. Williams and Alfa Romeo managed to salvage entries into Q3, while the field watched the final attempts with bated breath.

— DAZN Spain commentary of the qualifying drama

Q3: Leclerc’s pole position

As the final duel for pole began, newcomers mixed with seasoned names, with Magnussen, Bottas, Williams, and Albon among the surprises adding twists to the shootout. Leclerc held the lead on the first attempt with 1:33.021, while Sainz was a mere 22 thousandths behind and Verstappen within a tenth. Alonso started fourth on confident feel from used tires, ahead of Russell.

In the final assault, Leclerc claimed pole once again, edging Sainz by 44 thousandths. Verstappen paused his decisive lap to finish third, and Alonso slipped to tenth, but will start ninth on Sunday due to Sainz’s grid penalty. The competition remained razor-thin, with every hundredth of a second counting as teams prepared for race day on the Strip.