New blow of Max Verstappen to Lando Norris. The Dutchman was once again ahead of the Brit, overcoming all the setbacks he seemed to suffer in Las Vegas. The Mercedes and the Ferraris were the most competitive. In fact, Russell took pole and Carlos Sainz will complete the first line. The British took first place from the Spaniard by 98 thousandths. Gasly slipped into third position with his Alpine, overtaking Leclerc. And there, on the third line, Verstappen and Norris will start, the only contenders for a World Championship that Red Bull can claim this Sunday. Max was solid in all the runs, although everything can change in a long and unpredictable race like Las Vegas, where walls are always a danger and where the temperature greatly affects the asphalt and, therefore, the tires. Fernando Alonso did not pass the Q1 cut.
Options are exhausted Lando Norris to unseat Max Verstappen of first place in the World Cup. If the Dutchman leaves this circuit with a 62-point lead (now he has 60) he will win his fourth title. It seems unlikely that he will achieve it due to Red Bull’s problems on this circuit, which are added to the error of the Austrian factory when selecting the wing to race in Las Vegas, but there are still four races left, including the sprint. in Qatar. 86 points at stake that Max will try to manage. This Sunday the first match ball battle will be fought.
They began sending the McLaren in the first laps of Q1, with Verstappen still in the garage. Bad first lap for the Dutchman, who did not make the cut and with Pérez making an insufficient fourth place. Max improved his time, although he couldn’t get past fifth place, the same one he was up to. Fernando Alonso mid-session. It was difficult for Ferrari to warm up the tires, but then the car was fast, and it showed Leclerc and shortly after Carlos Sainzwho flirted in the top positions with Norris and Piastri. In the end, bittersweet taste in Red Bull, with Checo Pérez unable to pass the first cutbut with Verstappen achieving the best time, only behind the two Mercedes. Norris finished seventh, behind Carlos Sainz and Fernando Alonso eliminated after aborting his last lap. Perez (Red Bull), Alonso and Stroll (Aston Martin), Albon (Williams) and Bottas (Sauber) were left out of this Q1.
The McLarens improved in the first attempts of Q2, although Verstappen seemed to be faster than Norris. Hamilton remained intractable. The Mercedes heated their tires quickly and that allowed them to tackle attempts from the beginning, without having to over-prepare their tires. Max rose to first position, beating the time of the first sector, but Los Mercedes once again demonstrated their superiority in Las Vegas. Russel He dominated the session and Leclerc slipped into third place. Verstappen, fourth, was satisfied with his time, enough to go to Q3, and retired to the pits. The session ended with a Colapinto accidentwhich destroyed his car. Red flag on the last lap that allowed Hamilton to lead Q2, followed by Sainz and Russell, and Verstappen to be ahead of Norris again. Ocon (Alpine), Magnussen (Haas), Zhou (Sauber), Colapinto (Williams) and Lawson (Alpha Tauri) were eliminated.
The two McLarens and Sainz’s Ferrari They started leading in Q3, although Verstappen was still warming up tires. The Dutchman showed that he was going fast and got into the high places on his first attempt, minimizing the fears of his box. Once again he surpassed Norris but there was one last attempt. Russell continued flying, threatened by the Ferraris and finally, Verstappen will start again ahead of Norris.
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