Formula 1
LECLERC DENIES CARLOS SAINZ AND, MAX VERSTAPPEN LAS VEGAS POLE POSITION! AFTER THE MOST UNFAIR FIA PENALTY ON SAINZ! LOGAN SARGENT P6, FERNANDO P9 AND LCH P10.
The highly anticipated Las Vegas Grand Prix is back on track after a disastrous opening day had to be suspended to fix a loose manhole cover, as Charles Leclerc claimed pole in qualifying.
The first session of F1’s newest event had only been going for eight minutes before Carlos Sainz’s car stopped on the lengthy Vegas strip. Replays show his Ferrari car, at speeds of over 200mph, went over a loose drain cover before the Spaniard veered to the side and stopped the car due to substantial floor damage, and Ferrari were furious.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – NOVEMBER 17: Red Bull Racing Team Principal Christian Horner talks with Rod Stewart in the garage prior to qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Las Vegas at Las Vegas Strip Circuit on November 17, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool.
FP2 was delayed for more than two hours while the circuit was made safe, before the Ferrari pair of Charles Leclerc and Sainz topped the timings, with Max Verstappen only sixth. FP3 then saw Mercedes’ George Russell top the charts ahead of McLaren’s Oscar Pastri and Williams’ Logan Sargeant, with Ferrari way down the results after choosing to preserve their soft tyres.
But their true pace was revealed in qualifying as Leclerc and Carlos Sainz – who has a 10-place grid penalty after that FP1 incident – finished first and second, ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Mercedes’ George Russell. But their teammates Sergio Perez and Lewis suffered shock exits in Q2 and will start in the middle of the pack.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – NOVEMBER 15: Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing and Sergio Perez of Mexico and Oracle Red Bull Racing are introduced at the Opening Ceremony during previews ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Las Vegas at Las Vegas Strip Circuit on November 15, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Mindy Small – Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool.
Max Verstappen compared the Las Vegas Grand Prix circuit to the “National League” after qualifying on Saturday – while Monaco is the Champions League.
Max finished third in Saturday qualifying for the maiden Las Vegas Grand Prix with the Oracle Red Bull Racing driver starting second in the race due to Carlos Sainz’s 10-place grid penalty as Mexican teammate Sergio Pérez will start from 11th on the grid.
Dutchman Verstappen, 26, said: “It is quite cold out there, quite slippery. Being on the street circuit, you try and get as close as you can to the walls. It was enjoyable out there. I hope in the race, we are good on the tyres and we can go forward. I would have liked to have a little more pace today. It is a very long straight and a lot of racing will happen there.”
Logan Sargeant: Today felt really good from FP3 onwards. I’m very happy to execute over three separate sessions and finally extract the potential that we’ve had. To do it here in Vegas is extra special which is highlighted by the fact we have a great car here. It’s not easy to deliver on that performance, so the fact we’re able to continuously do that throughout the session is awesome.
It’s been a great day for the team and congrats to everyone. We’ve worked hard and knew this weekend was a good opportunity and we’re off to the right start. Most importantly we have two cars near the front of the grid. We have a very annoying car down the straights for others, so we’ll try and use that to our advantage. Hopefully we can continue this level of performance and have a strong race.