“One step at a time”: Norris after jackpot pole position in Las Vegas
- Maham Mir
- 2 hours ago
- 2 min read
Written by Maham Mir
Lando Norris hit the jackpot with pole position for the Las Vegas Grand Prix, setting a time three-tenths faster than Max Verstappen in P2 in rain-filled conditions.
Discussing the session, Norris said that it “was difficult to know what to expect” in the lead up to qualifying as McLaren were cautious with their expectations. The track, despite the glitz and glamour appeal which all the teams have embraced, has not been the best circuit for the current champions. Despite this track record, however, Norris was optimistic after finishing P1 in a disrupted FP2 session.
After qualifying, Norris stated that taking it “one step at a time” is key. Considering that his teammate and championship rival Oscar Piastri starts in P5, Saturday’s race is a golden opportunity for Norris to extend his championship lead beyond the 24 points where it currently stands.
However, Norris was also cautious in stating “there’s a lot of unknowns” about the race given the interruptions that the drivers and teams have experienced so far. With the lack of long-run simulations for all the teams across the grid, it seems to be anyone’s guess what the final pecking order will be in Vegas this time around.
With this pole position, his third consecutive and seventh overall for the season, Norris has tied Verstappen’s total for the season and the pair line up side by side on the front row for the fifth time in 2025.
Looking ahead to Saturday’s Grand Prix, Norris will be hoping to maintain his recent run of incredible form for a third successive win. With championship rival Verstappen lining up beside him in P2, his sights will be focused on a clean start and run into Turn 1 ahead of the 50-lap race in Las Vegas.
