Leclerc races to Formula 1 pole in Las Vegas

Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc has secured his first pole position since Formula 1 returned to Las Vegas. It was Leclerc's fifth pole of the season and 23rd overall.

18 November 2023

From: dpa

Charles Leclerc secured pole position for the Las Vegas Grand Prix. The Monegasque driver set the fastest time in the Nevada desert on Saturday and will start the eagerly awaited penultimate race of the season in the gambling metropolis on Sunday (7.00 a.m. CET) ahead of world champion Max Verstappen in a Red Bull. Mercedes driver George Russell, who previously completed the third training session had decided for himself, is in third place on the grid.

Ferrari teammate Carlos Sainz came second in qualifying, but the Spaniard was out on Friday of damage through no fault of one's own on the car was moved back ten places. Record world champion Lewis Hamilton in the Mercedes and Sergio Perez in the Red Bull were eliminated early. Hamilton only finished the second knockout round in eleventh place and Perez in twelfth. The two Mclaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri even got stuck in Q1.

The results

1. Charles Leclerc (MON) Ferrari 1:32,726 mins.
2. Carlos Sainz* (ESP) Ferrari +0,044 sec.
3. Max Verstappen (NED) Red Bull +0,378
4. George Russell (GBR) Mercedes +0,386
5. Pierre Gasly (FRA) Alpine +0,513
6. Alexander Albon (THA) Williams +0,597
7. Logan Sargeant (USA) Williams +0,787
8. Valtteri Bottas (FIN) Alfa Romeo +0,799
9. Kevin Magnussen (DEN) Haas +0,811
10. Fernando Alonso (ESP) Aston Martin +0,829
11. Lewis Hamilton (GBR) Mercedes 1:33,837 mins.
12. Sergio Perez (MEX) Red Bull 1:33,855
13. Nico Hülkenberg (GER) Haas 1:33,979
14. Lance Stroll** (CAN) Aston Martin 1:34,199
15. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS) AlphaTauri 1:34,308
16. Lando Norris (GBR) McLaren 1:34,703
17. Esteban Ocon (FRA) Alpine 1:34,834
18. Zhou Guanyu (CHN) Alfa Romeo 1:34,849
19. Oscar Piastri (AUS) McLaren 1:34,850
20. Yuki Tsunoda (JPN) AlphaTauri 1:36,447
* moved back ten starting places
** moved back by five starting positions

Schlagwörter: Motorsport Formula 1 Las Vegas Charles Leclerc