The qualifying sessions for the 2025 Las Vegas Grand Prix delivered over 60 minutes of thrilling action. Rain made the day even more unpredictable, and it was impossible to know who would claim pole position until the checkered flag waved! The excitement began in Q1 with the surprising eliminations of Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) and Andrea Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes). Both drivers had looked set to fight for top positions based on their pace in the practice sessions. The challenge for these drivers was likely amplified by having to run on Full Wet tires for the first time this weekend. Lewis, for instance, admitted he struggled to get the tires up to temperature.
In Q3, as the track gradually dried, drivers switched to Intermediate tires, giving us twelve intense minutes of qualifying action. The circuit improved lap by lap. Lando Norris, Max Verstappen, and Oscar Piastri kept improving with each attempt. Oscar Piastri had several strong laps that placed him ahead of the pair, but on his final attempt, he had to lift due to a yellow flag, as he later confirmed. Norris edged out Verstappen, while a superb Carlos Sainz claimed third. Oscar Piastri finished only fifth, and Charles Leclerc ended ninth, showing competitive pace only in parts of the session.
Provisional starting grid for the 2025 Las Vegas GP (05:00 CET)
After Q3, news emerged that Mercedes had not submitted the documentation regarding their car setups to the FIA. However, the team successfully proved that all material had been sent on time, avoiding a potential penalty. Earlier in Q1, Sainz also came under scrutiny for rejoining the track unsafely after making a mistake. The stewards heard the driver’s explanation and decided not to penalize the incident. Therefore, the order from qualifying remains confirmed.
We can now present the provisional starting grid for the twenty-second race of the season, scheduled to begin in Las Vegas at 05:00 Central European Time.
Why is it called a provisional grid? Because team engineers could still encounter issues with their cars before the race tomorrow. If a component subject to regulatory restrictions must be replaced, the FIA would have to drop the driver in question a few positions on the grid.
P.S.: On our website, you can always find the updated classifications at the end of each session.
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