Chaos in the Desert: Rain, Spins, and a Stunning Pole
Formula 1’s return to Las Vegas delivered a qualifying session for the ages, as rare rain turned the Strip into a slippery battleground and upended the 2025 title fight.
Lando Norris mastered the treacherous conditions to claim pole position for McLaren, edging out Max Verstappen in a nail-biting finale that saw drivers skating on the edge—literally and figuratively.
The session was the first-ever wet qualifying in Las Vegas Grand Prix history, with drivers struggling for grip on a cold, rain-soaked circuit. Norris, who has shown a knack for excelling in unpredictable conditions, pulled out a “flying lap when it matters most,” crossing the line just three-tenths ahead of Verstappen to secure the top spot on the grid.
Verstappen and Russell in the Hunt
Max Verstappen looked quick on full wet tires but admitted his Red Bull struggled when the team switched to intermediates in Q3. Still, the reigning champion did enough to secure a front-row start, setting up a tantalizing showdown with Norris for Sunday’s race.
George Russell also impressed, briefly topping the timesheets before Norris’s late heroics. Oscar Piastri, Norris’s McLaren teammate, managed fifth on the grid, while Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz and Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton both endured challenging sessions, with Sainz at risk of losing his third-place grid slot due to a stewards’ investigation over an incident with Lance Stroll.
McLaren’s Joy Turns to Disbelief: Double Disqualification
Just as McLaren celebrated a front-row start, the team was rocked by a
post-qualifying bombshell: both Norris and Piastri were disqualified from the session after their cars failed post-race inspection due to excessive plank wear—a technical infringement that has thrown the championship race into chaos.
The disqualification means both drivers will start from the back of the grid, dramatically altering the complexion of the Las Vegas Grand Prix and the 2025 title fight. McLaren issued a public apology to its drivers and fans, calling the outcome “devastating” and vowing to investigate how the error occurred.
Drivers React: “Treacherous” Conditions and High Drama
Drivers described the session as one of the most challenging of their careers. Red Bull’s Verstappen praised the skill level across the grid, noting the “extremely tough” conditions with rain, cold, and a slippery surface making every lap a gamble. Fernando Alonso called the session “more fun than I thought,” while Alex Albon questioned the FIA’s handling of the wet conditions, labeling them “sketchy”.
What’s Next: Title Fight Blown Wide Open
With Norris and Piastri relegated to the back, Verstappen and Russell are now favorites to capitalize in Sunday’s race. The double McLaren DSQ has “blown open the title fight,” with fans and pundits calling it a “colossal f*** up” that could define the 2025 season.
Expect fireworks as the grid resets and the world’s best drivers battle for supremacy under the neon lights of Las Vegas.
Sources
1. Qualifying Highlights | 2025 Las Vegas Grand Prix - YouTube
2. Latest Formula 1 News, Analysis, Results and More
3. What the teams said – Qualifying in Las Vegas
4. F1 News - The Latest Formula 1 News, Articles & F1 Results
5. Norris and Piastri disqualified from Las Vegas GP as McLarens fail post-race inspection
6. Category: BBC F1
7. Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri disqualified from Las Vegas GP - latest
8. STATS F1
9. LIVE COVERAGE: Follow all the action from Qualifying for the Las Vegas Grand Prix
10. Singapore exposes Alpine's pace problem – again
11. Verstappen seizes lead as Norris runs wide in dramatic start - F1
12. Formula 1: Articles & News Reports.
13. Gasly's gutsy optimism: Alpine's future bright despite 2025 ...
