Sainz was one of several drivers to skate into the run-off areas, while Charles Leclerc recovered an almighty slide, temporarily stalling his Ferrari as he fully backed off while applying opposite lock. Albon couldn’t keep his Williams out of the wall, snapping his front-right steering at the end of the session, and Oliver Bearman also ran off and hit a barrier.
The scene looked set for a surprise early exit for a least one big name but. in truth, Hamilton never looked likely to move into the later stages of qualifying as he tiptoed around the circuit, missing the apex and running over a cone just before his final flying lap, which left him slowest and last on the grid.
He could have had another chance, after crossing the finish line a split second before the lights turned red to indicate the end of Q1, but Hamilton said that he only saw the red lights and hadn’t realised that he could have set another time.
The Ferrari driver was eliminated along with a Red Bull and Mercedes — Yuki Tsunoda and Kimi Antonelli also struggled — as well as Gabriel Bortoleto and Albon.
The rain had stopped falling by the start of Q2, but drivers were still on full wet tyres, still power sliding out of corners. Stroll was first to try intermediate tyres, but it was too early, and he was knocked out with Nico Hülkenberg, Esteban Ocon, Oliver Bearman and Franco Colapinto.
Topping the timesheet — as he had done in Q1 — was Russell.
Norris and Verstappen debrief after a “stressful” session
Red Bull
The Q3 top ten shootout brought all drivers out on intermediate tyres and times continued to improve, but grip levels looked little better: the cars were visibly on the ragged edge as drivers pushed as hard as they dared.
In the closing seconds, Leclerc once more headed into a run-off zone at Turn 12, bringing out yellow flags. Norris was already setting fastest sector times on his final lap, despite sliding through the corners at the end of the Strip, but Piastri was behind the Ferrari and had to slow for the yellow flags, ending his hopes of challenging his team-mate.
Russell was compromised too. He described a power steering issue, which affected his pace in Q3. He will start fourth, ahead of Piastri.
Liam Lawson qualified sixth ahead of Fernando Alonso, team-mate Isack Hadjar, Leclerc and Pierre Gasly.
Below is the provisional starting grid. This could change ahead of the race if further penalties are applied or a driver needs to start from the pitlane.
2025 Las Vegas Grand Prix starting grid
1 |
Lando Norris McLaren 1min 47.934sec Q3 |
|
2 |
Max Verstappen Red Bull 1min 48.257sec Q3 |
|
3 |
Carlos Sainz Williams 1min 48.296sec Q3 |
|
4 |
George Russell Mercedes 1min 48.803sec Q3 |
|
5 |
Oscar Piastri McLaren 1min 48.961sec Q3 |
|
6 |
Liam Lawson Racing Bulls 1min 49.062sec Q3 |
|
7 |
Fernando Alonso Aston Martin 1min 49.466sec Q3 |
|
8 |
Isack Hadjar Racing Bulls 1min 49.554sec Q3 |
|
9 |
Charles Leclerc Ferrari 1min 49.872sec Q3 |
|
10 |
Pierre Gasly Alpine 1min 51.540sec Q3 |
|
11 |
Nico Hülkenberg Sauber 1min 52.781sec Q2 |
|
12 |
Lance Stroll Aston Martin 1min 52.850sec Q2 |
|
13 |
Esteban Ocon Haas 1min 52.987sec Q2 |
|
14 |
Oliver Bearman Haas 1min 53.094sec Q2 |
|
15 |
Franco Colapinto Alpine 1min 53.683sec Q2 |
|
16 |
Alex Albon Williams 1min 56.220sec Q1 |
|
17 |
Kimi Antonelli Mercedes 1min 56.314sec Q1 |
|
18 |
Gabriel Bortoleto Sauber 1min 56.674sec Q1 |
|
19 |
Yuki Tsunoda Red Bull 1min 56.798sec Q1 |
|
20 |
Lewis Hamilton Ferrari 1min 57.115sec Q1 |
|
