Overview
- Lando Norris timed his final run to perfection to secure pole in chaotic wet conditions, with Max Verstappen second by 0.323s and Carlos Sainz third.
- George Russell qualified fourth but reported a Q3 power‑steering issue that cost pace, while Mercedes avoided sanctions after proving setup emails were delayed by an FIA IT check.
- Lewis Hamilton will start 20th after failing to get the tyres into the window and aborting a final attempt when a post‑timing‑line red light misled him.
- Oscar Piastri lines up fifth and Charles Leclerc ninth, as Ferrari’s wet‑weather struggles resurfaced on a slick night street circuit rarely hit by heavy rain.
- Teams expect a dry Grand Prix with tyre graining—especially on the right‑front—set to dictate strategy after limited long‑run running on the Las Vegas Strip Circuit.