[1/5] Formula One F1 - Las Vegas Grand Prix - Las Vegas Strip Circuit, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S - November 18, 2023 Ferrari's Charles Leclerc celebrates after qualifying in pole position REUTERS/Finn Blake Acquire Licensing RightsSummaryCompanies Ferrari first and second in Las Vegas qualifyingLeclerc on pole but penalty drops Sainz 10 placesVerstappen to start on front row for Red BullWilliams in surprise third row sweep, McLaren struggleLAS VEGAS, Nov 18 (Reuters) - Charles Leclerc put Ferrari on pole position for the inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix on Saturday with Red Bull's triple Formula One world champion Max Verstappen stepping up to join him on the front row.
Leclerc was fastest in all three qualifying phases down the floodlit Strip, with its neon backdrop of landmark hotels and casinos, for his third pole in the last four races.
The Monaco driver was still disappointed with his laps, and a pole time of one minute 32.726 seconds only half a tenth faster than Sainz.
Red Bull's Sergio Perez, who can clinch second place overall in the championship this weekend, will start 11th as Sainz drops to 12th.
Qualifying started at midnight on Friday, making Las Vegas the first grand prix since Japan in 2019 where the pole position was decided on the same day as the race.
Persons:
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, Finn Blake, Ferrari, Leclerc, Verstappen, Red Bull Williams, Charles Leclerc, Max Verstappen, Ferrari's Carlos Sainz, Sainz, George Russell, Pierre Gasly, Williams, Alex Albon, Logan Sargeant, Valtteri Bottas, Alfa Romeo, Kevin Magnussen, Haas, Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin, Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton, Red Bull's Sergio Perez, MCLARENS, McLarens, Britain's Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri, Aston, Lance, Zak Brown, Alpine's Esteban Ocon, Frenchman, Ocon, Alan Baldwin, Kirsten Donovan, Hugh Lawson
Organizations:
Las Vegas, Las Vegas Strip, Sainz, McLaren, LAS VEGAS, Monaco, Mercedes, Alfa, U.S, Aston, Sky Sports, Verstappen, Thomson
Locations:
Las Vegas , Nevada, U.S, Sin City, Dutch, Japan, London