Leclerc secures sensational pole position at Vegas GP: Qualifying Results
Charles Leclerc secured pole position at the Las Vegas GP, beats Sainz and Verstappen. Sainz's grid penalty elevates Verstappen to P2.
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc took a dominant pole position for the inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix, beating team-mate Carlos Sainz and world champion Max Verstappen in Saturday's qualifying session.
Leclerc led all three segments around the new strip-side circuit, with his final Q3 lap of 1:32.726 nearly half a second faster than the rest.
Sainz qualified second but drops to 12th due to a grid penalty for exceeding power unit components, promoting Verstappen to join Leclerc on the front row.
In the tricky cool conditions, most drivers needed multiple push laps to build temperature in the soft tyres before setting competitive times.
Leclerc alone managed maximum performance from the outset, showing unmatched feel.
His command in Q1 and Q2 allowed him to save tyres for Q3 as others used extra sets. Sainz tried an alternate two warm-up lap approach but couldn't beat Leclerc's pace.
Verstappen abandoned his final Q3 attempt after gaining no time in the first sectors, settling for third.
There was despair for McLaren as both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri crashed out in Q1, resigning them to 16th and 20th on the grid.
Norris carried too much speed into Turn 1, snapping his rear and hitting the wall. Minutes later Piastri had a near-identical accident which heavily damaged his car.
Also knocked out in Q2 were Lewis Hamilton, Sergio Perez, Nico Hulkenberg, Lance Stroll and Daniel Ricciardo.
Q3 efforts in the dying seconds put Pierre Gasly and Williams' Alex Albon and F1 debutant Logan Sargeant into fourth through sixth, unable to dislodge Mercedes' George Russell from fourth.
With Sainz demoted, Verstappen looks best-placed to challenge Leclerc in Sunday's race.
The cool night temperatures could make tyre wear and strategy pivotal under the neon lights.
2023 Las Vegas GP Qualifying Results:
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