Ferrari's Leclerc lights up the Las Vegas strip to take pole ahead of Verstappen

18.11.2023 - 13:35 thenationalnews.com

Charles Leclerc danced his way to pole position with an emphatic performance for Ferrari under the Las Vegas lights. At just after 1am Saturday local time (1pm UAE) – the latest conclusion to a qualifying session in Formula One history – Leclerc finished just 0.044 seconds clear of team-mate Carlos Sainz.

However, Sainz will start down in 12th after a loose drain cover destroyed his Ferrari in practice and triggered a 10-place grid penalty.

Triple world champion Max Verstappen, a winner in 17 of the 20 rounds so far, took third spot for Red Bull, but will move up to second following Sainz’s demotion.

Lewis Hamilton was eliminated in Q2, leaving him only 10th on the grid. Hamilton finished half-a-second behind team-mate George Russell, who hauled his Mercedes into Q3 before taking advantage of Sainz’s penalty to secure third on the grid for Saturday’s 50-lap race.

F1 US Max Verstappen Lewis Hamilton George Russell Stefano Domenicali Charles Leclerc Carlos Sainz Usa county Lewis Uae county Hamilton

ABU DHABI: Max Verstappen took pole position for the season-ending Abu Grand Prix on Saturday and will look to finish a crushingly dominant year with a 19th win. Victory on Sunday would take the Red Bull driver onto 54 career wins, past former Red Bull star Sebastian Vettel and into third place all time. “It’s been a very special season and we’ve been enjoying it a lot,” Verstappen said. “Very proud of what we have achieved.” The three-time F1 champion’s 12th pole of the season took him to 32 overall.

FIA clamps down on pitlane exit overtakes after Verstappen move

ABU DHABI : Formula One's governing body barred overtaking in the pitlane exit during the season's final qualifying in Abu Dhabi on Saturday after triple world champion Max Verstappen forced his way past rivals in practice.

Max Verstappen battles through to win Las Vegas Grand Prix thriller

LAS VEGAS: World champion Max Verstappen claimed the 18th win of his record-breaking season, overcoming a five-second penalty to power to victory in a thrilling Las Vegas Grand Prix on Saturday. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc overtook Red Bull’s Sergio Perez on the last lap to grab second place ahead of the Mexican with French driver Esteban Ocon of Alpine finishing fourth at the end of a race which saw multiple lead changes and plenty of overtaking. Verstappen had been highly critical of the return of Formula One to Vegas after a 41-year absence, saying the event was “99 percent show,” but as he drove past the finish line he celebrated with a chorus of ‘Viva Las Vegas’ on the team radio. “He loves a race like that. Even though he was on the end of a penalty.