(Las Vegas) Monegasque Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) set the best time in qualifying and will start in the lead position for the Las Vegas Grand Prix on Saturday, for the return of F1 to the city of gaming.
After a black day on Thursday, Ferrari shined red on Friday with its two fastest drivers in qualifying.
For Leclerc, it is the 5th leading position of the season (in Belgium he took advantage of a penalty inflicted on Verstappen, who was faster), and the 23rd of his career at 26 years old.
“I’m happy of course, for the premiere in Las Vegas [the two Grands Prix of 1981 and 1982 were the Caesars Palace Grands Prix], an incredible event. I’m still a little disappointed with my Q3, I didn’t do a great job but it was enough for the lead. We will try to put everything together to win here,” reacted the Monegasque.
For Carlos Sainz, second time just behind his teammate, the day is bittersweet since he remains penalized by 10 places on the Grand Prix grid, a legacy of the misfortunes experienced on Thursday.
The Ferrari driver was in fact penalized for having changed an engine component after hitting a manhole which had greatly disrupted the first day of testing.
“The team did a magnificent job, we dominated these qualifications after a difficult day yesterday, it’s incredible to be in the first two places,” commented the Spaniard. I did my best today. But I’m still very disappointed with what happened yesterday, I’m still angry but I try not to show it too much. »
Alongside Leclerc, the Dutchman Max Verstappen (Red Bull), qualified 3rd, will start on the front row, he who is already assured of winning a third world championship title in a row this season, after having won 17 races out of 20 for now.
Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) and Sergio Perez (Red Bull), the two drivers vying for the place of vice-world champion, were eliminated in Q2. They will start 10th and 11th respectively, ahead of Sainz, 12th.
“We finished a little too early – four minutes from the end of Q2 – and the other drivers continued to progress,” regretted Perez, known for being comfortable on urban tracks.
“I really struggled to find grip,” lamented the seven-time British F1 champion. “We couldn’t get the tires to work the whole session.”
On the second row, George Russell (Mercedes) will start just ahead of Pierre Gasly (Alpine), the pleasant surprise of the day.
“It came out of nowhere, I thought it would be the most complicated circuit of the season,” smiled the Frenchman. The car worked well, I went to the limit, I did great laps.” His teammate and compatriot Esteban Ocon will only start 16th.
Also note the excellent performance of the rookie and local rider of the event, the American Logan Sargeant, who achieved his best qualification in F1 in Vegas. He will start 6th at the wheel of his modest Williams, just behind his Thai teammate Alexander Albon.
Canadian Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) received a five-place penalty for overtaking under yellow flag during the last free practice session held earlier Friday. He will only start 19th.
Celebrated with great fanfare, the return of F1 to Las Vegas 41 years after two races held in the Caesars Palace parking lot in 1981 and 1982 began with an embarrassing day on Thursday for the start of testing, greatly disrupted by a manhole cover .
Cador Verstappen was less than enthusiastic about the circuit on the legendary Vegas Strip, “not very interesting”, and the spectacle that accompanies it behind the scenes.
His rival Lewis Hamilton, a more “bling-bling” personality, on the contrary defended the event, “you are going to see great races” and the show: “all my Hollywood acquaintances will come”.
Las Vegas is the penultimate Grand Prix of the year, before the season closes next week in Abu Dhabi.