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F1 live updates from the Las Vegas Strip Circuit with Norris on top and title rival Oscar Piastri in fifth
Kieran JacksonFormula 1 CorrespondentSunday 23 November 2025 04:10 GMTComments
CloseLando Norris reveals mentality ahead of final three F1 races of 2025 seasonLando Norris ticked off another box in his bid to win the F1 world championship by mastering a wet qualifying session to secure pole position for the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
In treacherous conditions on the Strip, Norris saw off Max Verstappen by 0.323 seconds, while Oscar Piastri – Norris’ closest title challenger – could manage only fifth.
Carlos Sainz took third for Williams, one place ahead of Mercedes’ George Russell. Lewis Hamilton’s nightmare debut season for Ferrari took a catastrophic twist after he qualified 20th and last.
Norris leads McLaren team-mate Piastri by 24 points and Verstappen by 49, with 83 points to play for across the concluding three rounds. He will start Saturday’s showbiz race in Nevada in the best position to extend his title advantage, with a view to potentially being crowned champion of the world as early as next weekend in Qatar.
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F1 LAS VEGAS GRAND PRIX - LATEST UPDATES
- TOP-3: Verstappen, Russell, Norris (Lap 3/50)
- START! Norris drops from first to third with Verstappen leading
- Norris can take a giant step towards F1 world title - he has a 24-point lead
- READ: The cold truth behind Ferrari’s F1 struggles
Piastri and Lawson noted by race control (Lap 4/50)
As if it couldn’t get any worse for Oscar Piastri, the Australian is under investigation for a turn 1 incident.
I believe that’s how he lost his places - he is up from seventh to sixth now, an overtake occuring on lap 2.
VSC has now ended..
Kieran Jackson23 November 2025 04:10Hamilton up to 12th (Lap 2/50)
Seven places for Lewis Hamilton at the start!
And with debris on the track, the virtual safety car is called!
Top-10: Verstappen, Russell, Norris, Sainz, Hadjar, Piastri, Bearman, Leclerc, Alonso, Gasly
Kieran Jackson23 November 2025 04:08Verstappen takes the lead!
Nightmare start for both McLarens!
Norris sweeps across ahead of turn 1 at the start but goes deep, off the track!
Russell then takes second place around the outside at turn 3 - Norris down to third!
But Oscar Piastri has dropped places too, he’s down to seventh!
Kieran Jackson23 November 2025 04:06Formation lap:
Lando Norris leads the 19-car pack on the grid away then for the formation lap.
The top nine all start on the medium tyre, with Kimi Antonelli in 17th the only soft-tyre starter.
Lewis Hamilton is on hards.
What will happen at the start here?!
Kieran Jackson23 November 2025 04:01A reminder of the starting grid:
1. Lando Norris - McLaren
2. Max Verstappen - Red Bull
3. Carlos Sainz - Williams
4. George Russell - Mercedes
5. Oscar Piastri - McLaren
6. Liam Lawson - Racing Bulls
7. Fernando Alonso - Aston Martin
8. Isack Hadjar - Racing Bulls
9. Charles Leclerc - Ferrari
10. Pierre Gasly - Alpine
11. Nico Hulkenberg - Sauber
12. Lance Stroll - Aston Martin
13. Esteban Ocon - Haas
14. Ollie Bearman - Haas
15. Franco Colapinto - Alpine
16. Alex Albon - Williams
17. Kimi Antonelli - Mercedes
18. Gabriel Bortoleto - Sauber
19. Lewis Hamilton - Ferrari
Pit lane. Yuki Tsunoda - Red Bull
Kieran Jackson23 November 2025 03:59Las Vegas Grand Prix
Big moments then in the world championship.
Title leader Lando Norris starts on pole, with Max Verstappen in second - how aggressive will the Dutchman be at turn 1? A reminder: if Verstappen finishes more than eight points behind Norris, he will be officially out of the title race.
But all eyes, really, towards Oscar Piastri in fifth - he has to make something happen today. How aggressive does he go at the start?
(Getty Images)Kieran Jackson23 November 2025 03:58Oscar Piastri, who starts fifth:
“I’m looking forward to it, should be interesting.
“A lot of unknowns.”
He’ll surely do an alternative strategy to Norris.
Kieran Jackson23 November 2025 03:50F1 Academy winner
Earlier, Mercedes junior Doriane Pin won the all-female F1 Academy title.
Kieran Jackson23 November 2025 03:48Time for the US national anthem!
For the third time this year - with three American races on the calendar - it’s time for the Star Spangled Banner, performed by Adrian Lyles.
Kieran Jackson23 November 2025 03:45What can Ferrari do today?
Leclerc ninth, Hamilton 19th.
Can they make any headway tonight?
(Getty Images)Kieran Jackson23 November 2025 03:43Newer1 / 5OlderMore about
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