Lando Norris Takes Third Consecutive Pole Position in Wet Las Vegas Qualifying | F1 2025
Published on Sunday, November 23, 2025
Lando Norris delivered a masterclass in treacherous wet conditions to secure his third consecutive pole position for the Las Vegas Grand Prix, with Max Verstappen second, Carlos Sainz third, and Oscar Piastri slipping to fifth after a crucial yellow flag disrupted his final lap.
In a thrilling and treacherous wet qualifying session on the Las Vegas Strip Circuit, Lando Norris delivered a masterclass in challenging conditions to secure his third consecutive pole position for the Formula 1 Grand Prix, strengthening his commanding grip on the 2025 Drivers’ Championship. Max Verstappen qualified second ahead of Carlos Sainz in third, while Oscar Piastri’s title hopes suffered another setback after finishing only fifth following a yellow flag on his final lap.
Treacherous Conditions Test All Competitors
The Las Vegas Strip Circuit presented perhaps the most challenging qualifying conditions of the entire 2025 Formula 1 season as persistent rain saturated the famous night-time circuit ahead of and throughout qualifying. With air temperatures hovering around 54°F and track temperatures equally frigid, teams faced an exceptionally slippery surface that tested even the most experienced wet-weather specialists.
The heavy rainfall in the build-up to the session meant drivers were forced to begin Q1 on full wet tyres—despite the counterintuitive nature of such a choice at a street circuit that typically favors intermediates. Standing water and low grip proved so treacherous that even switching to intermediate tyres was problematic early on, with many of the grid’s top drivers struggling to find a working window for their rubber.
The session remained wet throughout all three knockout stages. Though track conditions gradually improved as water receded and drivers gained confidence, even by Q3—when most switched to intermediates—the circuit remained unforgiving. A single mistake could end qualifying ambitions in an instant.
Norris Masters the Chaos to Strike Gold
Norris emerged as the standout performer, demonstrating the kind of wet-weather mastery that has defined his late-season surge. His lap of 1:47.934 was nearly 0.323 seconds faster than Verstappen’s best—a substantial margin in such conditions—and a testament to his ability to extract maximum performance when it matters most.
The pole lap wasn’t without drama. As Norris navigated the final chicane on his crucial Q3 run, his McLaren snapped into massive oversteer through Turn 16, sending the car sliding perilously close to the wall. A lightning-quick steering correction saved his qualifying—but cost him around six-tenths of a second.
“Boy that was stressful – stressful as hell,” Norris reflected. “It’s slippery out there. As soon as you hit the curb, like I did, you snap one way, you snap the other way. Close to hitting the wall!”
This pole marks Norris’ third in a row—following wins from pole in Mexico City and Brazil—and reinforces his extraordinary consistency during the championship’s decisive phase. With victories in both prior races, the 26-year-old has built what appears to be an almost unassailable lead in the title fight.
Verstappen Takes Second Despite Traffic Challenges
Max Verstappen showed strong wet-weather pace but couldn’t match Norris’ rhythm in Q3. Though he briefly held provisional pole, he was ultimately outpaced by the McLaren driver. Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko cited traffic and tire warm-up issues as contributing factors to Verstappen’s near-miss.
Sainz Shines for Williams, Russell Takes Fourth
Carlos Sainz continued Williams’ 2025 renaissance with an impressive P3, crediting last-minute setup changes for their wet-weather competitiveness.
“The wet allowed us to shine a bit more,” Sainz said. “I don’t think in the dry that would have been possible. I don’t expect to hold P3 if the race is dry.”
George Russell secured fourth for Mercedes despite a power steering failure on his final Q3 lap. The issue robbed him of a potential front-row slot, though Mercedes praised his “valiant effort” under adversity.
Piastri’s Championship Hopes Take Another Hit
Oscar Piastri qualified fifth—a result made all the more frustrating by a yellow flag caused by Charles Leclerc’s Turn 12 excursion. The incident forced Piastri to abort his final lap just as he looked poised to challenge for P2.
“Got a yellow flag, and yeah, that was pretty much the end of it,” Piastri said. “We were quick… just one way or another, things seem to not be going the way I want at the moment.”
Telemetry suggests Piastri was on pace for second without the disruption. McLaren team principal Andrea Stella believes the Australian was “robbed of a podium-starting position.”
Hamilton’s Nightmare Continues: Last Place in Career Low
In one of the most shocking moments of the 2025 season, Lewis Hamilton qualified last—20th—in his debut year with Ferrari. The seven-time world champion struggled with visibility and grip, never finding rhythm in the wet. Confusion with his engineer over timing led to a missed final lap, sealing his worst qualifying result in F1 history.
“Clearly, it feels awful. It’s not a pleasant experience,” Hamilton admitted. “But all I can do is let it pass and aim to come back stronger tomorrow. This year is undoubtedly the toughest.”
He finished nearly three seconds behind teammate Leclerc and now faces the daunting task of salvaging pride from a 20th-place start under lights on Saturday night.
Shocking Eliminations and Notable Casualties
Beyond Hamilton, several drivers fell victim to the chaos:
- Andrea Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) locked up and was eliminated in Q1 (P17).
- Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) ran wide avoiding Piastri under yellow flags.
- Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) gambled on intermediates too early and missed Q3 (P12).
- Alex Albon (Williams) clipped the Turn 16 wall in Q1 but avoided major damage.
Championship Implications
With only three races left and 83 points remaining, Norris now leads Piastri by 24 points, with Verstappen a further 25 behind in third. A win on Saturday—his third straight—could put the title beyond mathematical doubt sooner than expected.
Track Conditions and Saturday Outlook
Dry weather is forecast for Saturday night’s race—a dramatic shift from Friday’s deluge. While this may neutralize Williams’ wet-weather advantage, Mercedes remains optimistic about Russell’s underlying pace. For McLaren, Norris’ all-conditions dominance suggests they’re peaking at the perfect time.
Conclusion
Lando Norris’ pole in Las Vegas wasn’t just about speed—it was a statement of resilience, skill, and championship poise. His ability to overcome near-disaster and dominate in chaos marks him as a title favorite in the truest sense.
Meanwhile, Piastri’s misfortune and Hamilton’s historic low underscore how merciless F1 can be—even for its greatest talents. As the lights go out on the Las Vegas Strip under clear skies, Norris stands on the brink of history, just 58 laps from potentially sealing his first world championship.
Sources
- Formula1.com – « Norris takes Las Vegas GP pole in wet Qualifying » (November 22, 2025)
- Sky Sports F1 – « Las Vegas GP Qualifying: Lando Norris claims stunning wet-weather pole… » (November 21, 2025)
- RacingNews365.com – « Lando Norris masters soaked Las Vegas for pole as Lewis Hamilton hits all-time low » (November 21, 2025)
- Motorsport.com – « Norris takes Las Vegas GP pole from Verstappen and Sainz in thrilling rain » (November 22, 2025)
- The New York Times Athletic – « Rain came for Las Vegas GP qualifying and brought out the best in F1’s drivers » (November 22, 2025)
- Sportsnet.ca – « Lando Norris takes pole in rainy Las Vegas qualifying; Verstappen bumped to second » (November 21, 2025)
- RaceFans.net – « Norris triumphs at wet Las Vegas to claim pole ahead of Verstappen and Sainz » (November 22, 2025)
- Racer.com – « Norris takes Las Vegas GP pole after wet qualifying » (November 21, 2025)
- Crash.net – « Lewis Hamilton qualifies last at Las Vegas GP as Ferrari nightmare continues » (November 21, 2025)
- PlanetF1.com – « How Lando Norris got away with a big mistake on Las Vegas pole lap | F1 telemetry data » (November 22, 2025)
- Mercedes-AMG F1 – « Eventful Qualifying in Las Vegas » (November 21, 2025)
- AutoAction.com.au – « Piastri hampered by uncontrollable disruptions in Vegas qualifying » (November 21, 2025)