Event: Las Vegas Grand Prix
Track: Las Vegas Strip Circuit
Weather: dry 15°C
Tarmac: dry 17°C
Humidity: 61%
Wind: 1.2 m/s W
Pressure: 942 mbar
Charles Leclerc scored the 23rd F1 pole position of his career during the 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix qualifying session today. The Ferrari driver will start from P1 for the first time on the Strip and the 5th time this season. It was the 249th pole for Scuderia Ferrari.
2023 Las Vegas Formula One Grand Prix: Qualifying Report
Las Vegas, Nevada: In a glittering display under the bright lights of the Las Vegas Strip, Charles Leclerc clinched pole position in an action-packed and unpredictable qualifying session for the 2023 Las Vegas Formula One Grand Prix. The session was marked by surprises and disappointments, setting the stage for what promises to be an enthralling race.
Red Bull Shows Mixed Fortunes
Red Bull entered the session with high expectations, especially given Max Verstappen's stellar season. Despite a slow start in the earlier practice, Verstappen managed to find his rhythm, qualifying in third but set to start second due to penalties elsewhere. Sergio Perez, on the other hand, faced an unexpected early exit in Q2, hinting at strategic missteps by the team.
Ferrari's Rollercoaster Ride
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc emerged as the star of the night, seizing pole with a last-gasp effort in Q3. Carlos Sainz Jr., despite showing strong pace, will face a 10-place grid penalty due to a power unit change, relegating him from his qualifying position of second. The team's performance oscillated throughout the sessions, but Leclerc's final effort underscored their potential.
Mercedes Struggles and Surprises
George Russell and Lewis Hamilton had a mixed evening with the former securing a fourth-place start while Hamilton suffered a Q2 elimination. Russell's strategy of double warm-up laps paid dividends, but Hamilton struggled with tire temperatures, a recurring issue this season.
McLaren's Unexpected Setback
McLaren's qualifying was a tale of unfulfilled potential, with both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri making an early exit in Q1. Despite Piastri showing promise in FP3, the duo couldn't translate it into qualifying success, raising questions about the car's pace and strategy.
Williams: The Dark Horses
Williams delivered a surprise performance, with both drivers reaching Q3. Alex Albon and rookie Logan Sargeant showed impressive pace, locking out the third row in an astonishing display of skill and strategy.
Other Key Performances
- Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso demonstrated competitive speed but couldn't capitalize fully in the final session.
- AlphaTauri's Pierre Gasly showcased resilience, bouncing back from a challenging Q1 to start in the top 10.
- Haas and Alfa Romeo had mixed fortunes, with Kevin Magnussen and Valtteri Bottas showing flashes of speed.
Looking Ahead to Race Day
With Leclerc and Verstappen at the front, the stage is set for a riveting battle at the front. Ferrari's race day struggles versus Red Bull's prowess adds an intriguing dynamic. Sainz and Perez, starting further back, will be ones to watch as they carve through the field. Hamilton, also starting lower than usual, could provide additional excitement.
The variable Las Vegas weather, tire strategies, and the ever-present risk of safety cars at this street circuit add layers of unpredictability to what promises to be an exhilarating race.
In conclusion, the Las Vegas qualifying session served a cocktail of drama, surprises, and strategic gambles. As the lights go out tomorrow, the question remains: Can Ferrari convert their qualifying triumph into a race victory, or will Red Bull and others upset their plans on the streets of Sin City?
The quickest sector times in this 9 min long FP1 were:
- 26.079 sec. by Charles Leclerc (Ferrari SF-23 #16)
- 30.647 sec. by Charles Leclerc (Ferrari SF-23 #16)
- 35727 sec. by Alex Albon (Williams FW45 #2)
Qualifying Times 2023 Las Vegas GP
| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Laps |
| 1 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1:33.617 | 1:32.775 | 1:32.726 | 23 |
| 2 | 55 | Carlos Sainz | Ferrari | 1:33.851 | 1:33.338 | 1:32.770 | 23 |
| 3 | 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | 1:34.190 | 1:33.572 | 1:33.104 | 19 |
| 4 | 63 | George Russell | Mercedes | 1:34.137 | 1:33.351 | 1:33.112 | 22 |
| 5 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine | 1:34.272 | 1:33.494 | 1:33.239 | 25 |
| 6 | 23 | Alex Albon | Williams | 1:34.634 | 1:33.588 | 1:33.323 | 21 |
| 7 | 2 | Logan Sargeant | Williams | 1:34.525 | 1:33.733 | 1:33.513 | 23 |
| 8 | 77 | Valtteri Bottas | Alfa Romeo | 1:34.305 | 1:33.809 | 1:33.525 | 19 |
| 9 | 20 | Kevin Magnussen | Haas | 1:34.337 | 1:33.664 | 1:33.537 | 23 |
| 10 | 14 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | 1:34.422 | 1:33.617 | 1:33.555 | 24 |
| 11 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | 1:34.307 | 1:33.837 | 15 | |
| 12 | 11 | Sergio Pérez | Red Bull | 1:34.574 | 1:33.855 | 14 | |
| 13 | 27 | Nico Hülkenberg | Haas | 1:34.265 | 1:33.979 | 17 | |
| 14 | 18 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin | 1:34.504 | 1:34.199 | 18 | |
| 15 | 3 | Daniel Ricciardo | AlphaTauri | 1:34.683 | 1:34.308 | 18 | |
| 16 | 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren | 1:34.703 | 9 | ||
| 17 | 31 | Esteban Ocon | Alpine | 1:34.834 | 10 | ||
| 18 | 24 | Zhou Guanyu | Alfa Romeo | 1:34.849 | 10 | ||
| 19 | 81 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | 1:34.850 | 10 | ||
| 20 | 22 | Yuki Tsunoda | AlphaTauri | 1:36.447 | 9 |
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Both Mclarens eliminated in Q1 is something that hasn't happened for a little while, so surprising, as were Hamilton's & Perez's Q2 eliminations or, more so, the former's.
Both Williamses in Q3 was a positive surprise, though.
The new LV circuit ultimately proved only the outright seventh-fastest circuit rather than third, as I expected beforehand.
The track looked better than I anticipated. Could be a fun race.
IMO, so far this entire weekend has been sucko. The entertainment sucked, racing in the middle of the night sucked, sending the PAYING customers home sucked, the Sainz decision sucked and other than the exploding faucet the whole 'show' has been boring. The only thing that can save it is a good race. Dare we hope???
Have to agree sofar , the hype hasnt turned to realty to make it ( the best race EVER) as some said it would be, but yeah a good race might save it a little, but that doesnt make it "The place to race/be" watching fp2 and quali ,all those barriers and railings it could have been anywhere, bur nowhere Special Imo
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