Lando Norris secured pole position in Las Vegas, a feat McLaren’s Andrea Stella described as exceptional. Norris now faces the challenge of maintaining his 24-point lead in the Formula One standings during the race.
He outperformed Max Verstappen from Red Bull, navigating wet conditions and a tricky chicane at the Las Vegas Strip Circuit. Carlos Sainz and George Russell followed in third and fourth, respectively.
Norris expressed his intent to approach the race cautiously due to the challenging conditions. “I’m here to win. I’m not here to not take risks,” he stated. Despite aiming for victory, he plans to focus on a strong start and solid opening lap. The track’s slippery nature made it difficult, with wheelspin and tyre lock-ups common issues.
The wet conditions in Las Vegas added complexity to the race preparations. Norris noted that it felt like driving on slicks due to the slipperiness. The combination of wheelspin, tyre lock-ups, and tricky lines made controlling the car challenging. Despite these hurdles, Norris was pleased with his performance given the circumstances.
Max Verstappen has been performing well recently but trails Norris by 49 points in the standings. “He’s been quick and if you expect anything less, then you don’t know what he’s capable of,” Norris remarked about Verstappen, anticipating a competitive race.
Lewis Hamilton faced difficulties during qualifying, finishing last for the first time based on outright pace. “The first set of tyres obviously didn’t work for us,” Hamilton explained, citing issues with generating heat in his tyres. He praised his team’s efforts despite the setback caused by rain affecting their strategy.
Norris’ teammate Oscar Piastri qualified fifth after leading much of the season. As Norris prepares for Saturday’s race, he remains focused on executing each step carefully to secure victory under challenging conditions.
The upcoming race promises intense competition between top drivers like Norris and Verstappen. With unpredictable weather adding another layer of complexity, fans can expect an exciting showdown on the Las Vegas circuit.