Monegasque Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) set the best time in qualifying and will start in pole position on Saturday at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, where F1 is making its comeback. His teammate Carlos Sainz achieved the second best time but will be penalized by ten places on the starting grid, leaving second position to Max Verstappen (Red Bull), already assured of a third world champion title.

Leclerc will start in pole position for the 5th time this season (in Belgium, he took advantage of a penalty imposed on Verstappen, who was faster), and the 23rd time in his career at 26 years old. “I am happy of course, for the premiere in Las Vegas (the two Grand Prix of 1981 and 1982 were the Caesar Palace Grand Prix, Editor’s note), an incredible event. I’m still a little disappointed with my Q3, I didn’t do a great job but it was enough for pole. We will try to put everything together to win here.”

Sainz allowed Ferrari to set the two best times of the day but will start from 12th position on Saturday at 10 p.m. (local time, 7 a.m. Sunday Paris time), due to a 10-place penalty suffered on Thursday for repairs to his car after hitting a manhole which disrupted the first day.

George Russell (Mercedes) and Pierre Gasly (Alpine), a surprise, will start on the second row, while two of the favorites, Sergio Perez (Red Bull) and Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) were eliminated in Q2.

1re ligne :Charles Leclerc (MON/Ferrari)Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull)

2nd row: George Russell (GBR/Mercedes) Pierre Gasly (FRA/Alpine-Renault)

3e ligne :Alexander Albon (THA/Williams-Mercedes)Logan Sargeant (USA/Williams-Mercedes)

4th row: Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Alfa Romeo-Ferrari) Kevin Magnussen (DEN/Haas-Ferrari)

5e ligne :Fernando Alonso (ESP/Aston Martin-Mercedes)Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes)

6e ligne:Sergio Pérez (MEX/Red Bull)Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP/Ferrari)*

7e ligne:Nico Hülkenberg (GER/Haas-Ferrari)Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/AlphaTauri-Red Bull)

8e line:Lando Norris (GBR/McLaren-Mercedes)Esteban Ocon (FRA/Alpine-Renault)

9th row: Oscar Piastri (AUS/McLaren-Mercedes) Zhou Guanyu (CHN/Alfa Romeo-Ferrari)

10e ligne :Lance Stroll (CAN/Aston Martin-Mercedes)*Yuki Tsunoda (JPN/AlphaTauri-Red Bull)

* Carlos Sainz was penalized by 10 places (change of engine element), Lance Stroll by 5 places (overtaking under yellow flag)

SEE ALSO – Blues: Dembélé, Giroud and Mbappé shake the nets in training