Norris-Verstappen front row, Sainz’s podium charge and more: What to expect in the Las Vegas Grand Prix

After a wet qualifying that truly tested the drivers’ limits, the stage is set for a show-stopping Grand Prix, Las Vegas style. With Lando Norris on his third consecutive pole and championship rivals Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri starting second and fifth respectively, here’s everything to look out for in the 2025 Las Vegas Grand Prix.

Lando Norris will start alongside Max Verstappen for the Las Vegas Grand Prix | Credit: Formula One

Qualifying in Las Vegas was a treacherously wet affair, and combined with the low grip, the grid experienced chaotic conditions under the blinding neon lights of Las Vegas. 

Lando Norris prevailed through the trials, sealing his third consecutive pole after posting a 1:47.934 ahead of Max Verstappen. Meanwhile, key championship rival Oscar Piastri continues with his late-season slump, managing only P5 after being caught out by yellow flags.

It was a session of shocks and surprises, as Carlos Sainz secured third for Williams while the man who replaced him at Ferrari, seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton, recorded a dismal Q1 exit and will line up P20 for the race.

From a tantalising front row to an underdog podium possibility, here are five things to watch out for in the 2025 Las Vegas Grand Prix.

Norris inches closer to title glory, if he can keep Verstappen behind

Ever since that devastating DNF in Zandvoort, Norris’ form has been impeccable — consistently outscoring Piastri, retaking the championship lead and now maintaining a healthy buffer to his championship rivals with just three rounds to go.

Driving with ice in his veins, the Briton mastered the unprecedented qualifying conditions in Las Vegas to clinch his seventh pole of the season, tying the number of 2025 poles with the Dutchman set to start alongside him.

Norris took his seventh pole of the season in Las Vegas | Credit: Formula One

If all goes well for Norris, as has been the case recently, the McLaren driver is in prime position to comfortably place one hand on the Drivers’ Championship trophy.

Meanwhile, Verstappen has nothing to lose and everything to gain in this championship fight, no doubt strengthening his resolve to attack Norris ahead to keep his title hopes alive.

Although the defending champion struggled during qualifying, he managed to stick it on provisional pole before being pipped by Norris, a positive showing of form ahead of the race.

Expect the two rivals to go head-to-head not just during the opening corners, but throughout the 50-lap race.

Another podium charge for Sainz

Williams have always looked promising around Vegas with its high-speed straights and low grip conditions, while Sainz secured third here with Ferrari last year, his penultimate podium with the Italian outfit.

This combination proved successful during this year’s qualifying, as Sainz sprinted to third on the grid, even in contention for pole at one point before being beaten by Norris and Verstappen. 

Carlos Sainz will be chasing his second podium of the season with Williams | Credit: Formula One

The Spaniard had an eventful session, also escaping a penalty for an incident involving Lance Stroll, and kept it tidy while many others struggled to find pace. 

Securing his highest qualifying position since P2 in Baku, where he scored his first podium with Williams, Sainz will be eager to replicate that result while beginning to find form in the latter half of the season, after a frustrating start to the year.

Ferrari’s woes continue as they hope to make progress during the race

While things are finally beginning to look up for Ferrari’s most recently departed driver, the circumstances couldn’t be worse for the Scuderia.

Both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton struggled tremendously throughout qualifying, with Leclerc admitting that the team has been “struggling massively at finding the grip” in wet conditions for years now.

Yet none would’ve been more disappointed than Hamilton, who recorded a shock Q1 exit, and will be lining up dead last on the grid. 

Coming into the weekend with Ferrari Chairman John Elkann’s divisive comments hanging over the team’s star line-up — “talk less and focus on driving” — Ferrari have no doubt seen better days both on and off the track.

Lewis Hamilton recored the worst qualifying result of his career on pure pace with P20 | Credit: Formula One

Leclerc and Hamilton’s only silver lining to a disastrous weekend thus far will be that Las Vegas provides opportunities aplenty to climb up the field, boding well for some overtaking action from the pair in red.

Piastri on the hunt to keep his title hopes alive

Another driver who was deflated after qualifying was Piastri, who now seems like a pale imitation of the cool, level-headed Australian of the mid-season rounds.

Failing to qualify within the top three for a fourth consecutive race and having last stepped on the podium back in early September, Piastri is quickly losing sight of a maiden title while his teammate Norris has become the overwhelming favourite following a 58-point swing.

However, Piastri’s qualifying session was far from poor, who looked steadily on course for a top three start but was hindered by Isack Hadjar slowing for yellow flags on his final Q3 run, thus compromising his lap.

The Australian driver will be chasing a late-season miracle and a dramatic turn of luck to keep his title hopes alive, beginning with an attempt to salvage a podium or possibly a win from P5 during the Las Vegas Grand Prix.

An early pass on George Russell and Sainz ahead will be Piastri’s agenda for the race start, so expect a feisty launch from the grid from the championship contender.

Oscar Piastri will start fifth, behind both his title rivals who occupy the front row | Credit: Formula One

With three races and a sprint remaining, all is not lost for Piastri yet, who is just one point shy of a race win behind Norris in the standings.

Overtakes galore

Ever since making its debut on the calendar in 2023, Las Vegas has provided some of the highest number of overtakes across rounds.

The 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix had 77 overtakes, while its inaugural 2023 race boasted a record 82 overtakes, the most of any circuit on its debut and the most of any dry race that season.

With the track naturally encouraging overtaking action, owing to both the lengthy straights and big braking zones, it can safely be assumed that this year’s race will be no different to the previous two in terms of racing action.

When the lights go out at 04:00 GMT, yet another dramatic racing spectacle awaits us in the heart of Sin City — with the title picture all set to become clearer following the first of 2025’s final three races.