2025 Las Vegas Grand Prix: Norris Claims Sensational Pole as Hamilton Hits Career Low Full Starting Grid Revealed
The 2025 Formula 1 season delivered yet another unforgettable chapter under the bright lights of the Las Vegas Strip as Lando Norris produced a breathtaking qualifying performance to seize pole position. In a session defined by unpredictability, rapidly shifting track conditions, and high-pressure stakes, the McLaren driver rose above the chaos to secure his third consecutive pole. The result not only strengthens his championship ambitions but also marks one of the most impressive individual displays of the season.
Qualifying began with heavy rainfall saturating the Nevada streets — a rare sight in the desert — forcing drivers to adapt instantly to a slick, evolving surface. As the laps ticked down, the rain eased and the circuit gradually dried, creating a narrow but critical window of opportunity in Q3. Norris capitalized flawlessly. While others struggled for grip or mistimed their flying laps, the Briton attacked the asphalt with fearless precision, extracting every fraction of performance from his McLaren.
Norris Shines as McLaren Defies Expectations
This particular street layout was never expected to favor McLaren. Its long straights and low-grip asphalt were believed to play into Red Bull’s and Williams’ strengths, but Norris flipped the script. With a blistering final lap, he planted himself firmly at the top of the timesheets, outpacing Max Verstappen — who will start alongside him in second — by a considerable margin.
Oscar Piastri looked poised for a front-row start as well, but a late yellow flag forced him to abort his final attack lap. As a result, the Australian had to settle for fifth place, behind Verstappen, Carlos Sainz, and George Russell.
Shockwaves Through the Field: Hamilton Qualifies Last
One of the most startling storylines of the night was Lewis Hamilton’s shock elimination. The seven-time world champion, now in his first season with Ferrari, struggled throughout all three practice sessions and was completely unable to unlock pace during qualifying. For the first time in his entire F1 career, Hamilton qualified dead last based purely on speed — a painful milestone for a driver of his stature.
Despite Ferrari’s strong form earlier in the season, the team seemed lost in the changing conditions. Charles Leclerc salvaged ninth place, but Hamilton’s lacklustre session raises yet more questions about Ferrari’s inconsistent performance and the challenges of adapting to a new team at this stage of his career.
Strong Showings in the Midfield
Further up the grid, Williams enjoyed a standout performance with Carlos Sainz claiming a superb third place. The 2025 Williams package appears particularly suited to high-speed, low-downforce environments, and Sainz made full use of that advantage. His teammate Alex Albon will start 16th after encountering traffic and struggling to heat his tires.
Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso delivered yet another dependable result, taking seventh, while rookie sensation Isack Hadjar impressed with eighth — a sign of his growing confidence within the Racing Bulls setup.
Liam Lawson, continuing to make his mark in Formula 1, placed his Racing Bulls machine in sixth, ahead of Alonso and Hadjar. Meanwhile, Alpine’s Pierre Gasly settled for 10th, narrowly missing out on the top nine after losing time in the final sector.
The Stakes Rise Ahead of Race Day
With the grid now set — pending any FIA adjustments — Sunday’s Las Vegas Grand Prix promises edge-of-the-seat excitement. The combination of an unpredictable track surface, small setup margins, and rapidly changing weather forecasts means nothing is secure. McLaren may have locked the front row’s advantage with Norris, but Verstappen remains a constant threat, especially over race distance. Russell in fourth and Sainz in third make the top four an explosive mix of talent, tension, and tactical intrigue.
Meanwhile, all eyes will certainly be on Hamilton, who faces the monumental task of climbing from 20th to a meaningful points finish. If the race delivers the unpredictability seen in qualifying, anything is possible.
FULL STARTING GRID 2025 F1 LAS VEGAS GRAND PRIX
Position Driver Team
1st Lando Norris McLaren
2nd Max Verstappen Red Bull
3rd Carlos Sainz Williams
4th George Russell Mercedes
5th Oscar Piastri McLaren
6th Liam Lawson Racing Bulls
7th Fernando Alonso Aston Martin
8th Isack Hadjar Racing Bulls
9th Charles Leclerc Ferrari
10th Pierre Gasly Alpine
11th Nico Hulkenberg Stake
12th Lance Stroll Aston Martin
13th Esteban Ocon Haas
14th Oliver Bearman Haas
15th Franco Colapinto Alpine
16th Alex Albon Williams
17th Kimi Antonelli Mercedes
18th Gabriel Bortoleto Stake
19th Yuki Tsunoda Red Bull
20th Lewis Hamilton Ferrari
