Lando Norris mastered the soaked Las Vegas Strip to snatch pole position for McLaren ahead of Max Verstappen (Red Bull) and a sensational Carlos Sainz in the Williams. George Russell, Oscar Piastri, Liam Lawson, Fernando Alonso, Isack Hadjar and Charles Leclerc completed the top nine – with the Ferrari driver almost a full two seconds off pole, once again exposing the Scuderia’s chronic weakness in the rain.
The nightmare was complete when Lewis Hamilton qualified stone-cold last – 20th out of 20 drivers. It marks the first time in his illustrious 361-race Formula 1 career that the seven-time world champion has ended a qualifying dead last after setting a valid lap time (excluding crashes or mechanical failures).
“It’s a nightmare. I’ve been living it for a while,” was Lewis Hamilton’s bitterly honest verdict after the qualifying session for the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
Lewis Hamilton rock bottom, Leclerc only ninth – Ferrari’s Las Vegas disaster in full
Lewis Hamilton will start Sunday’s Grand Prix from the back row in what is already shaping up to be another painful weekend for Ferrari, and especially for a driver who has openly called 2025 “the toughest year” of his F1 career.
The 40-year-old was knocked out in Q1 after a disastrous final few minutes. Despite crossing the line just before the chequered flag and having time for one final flying lap, Lewis Hamilton chose to slow down and abandon the attempt.
“I didn’t have any grip anyway, so I don’t think it would have made much difference,” he explained, also pointing to a late yellow flag at the final corner caused by Oliver Bearman’s off. That yellow forced everyone to back off right as they were about to start their last push lap.
Even before that, Lewis Hamilton’s hopes had already been wrecked when he clipped a polystyrene marker bollard in the dying minutes of Q1. The block appeared to get stuck underneath the car, costing him vital straight-line speed on what should have been his final flying lap.
Yellow flags, damaged floor, and a car that was simply undriveable in the wet combined to deliver the ultimate humiliation. Charles Leclerc’s ninth place, 1.9 seconds off Norris, only underlined that both Ferraris were hopelessly off the pace as soon as the heavens opened.
“The car felt fantastic in FP3” – Hamilton’s heartbreak
The most painful part? The signs had been positive just a few hours earlier.
“The car was fantastic in FP3. I was really happy – I actually thought we were finally going to have a good day,” Lewis Hamilton admitted. “But it just didn’t happen. Obviously it feels horrible. It doesn’t sit well with me.” – the seven-time Formula 1 world champion pointed out.
Millions of Tifosi around the world feel exactly the same way as they brace for yet another Grand Prix in which Ferrari look set to play supporting actors at best – unless the forecast dry race on Sunday produces the mother of all comebacks. After Saturday night’s disaster under the neon lights, that miracle is unfortunately looking further away than ever.
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