Carlos Sainz Jr. starts from pole position battle in Vegas, claims P3 after rainy qualifying

Carlos Sainz Jr. led the wet weather charge at Las Vegas with a brilliant qualifying run. The Williams driver claimed provisional pole position in Q3 before falling to third on the grid. It marks another strong showing for Sainz in treacherous November 21 conditions.

What Happened in Vegas Qualifying

Sainz‘s run through Q3 was sensational. He hit intermediate tires when conditions got better and delivered a stunning final lap. His 1:48.296 put him on provisional pole with about two minutes remaining.

Then Verstappen found an extra tenth. The Red Bull star clocked 1:48.257 to bump Sainz into second spot. But Norris saved his best for last. The McLaren driver’s 1:47.934 was incredibly quick for such slippery conditions. He nearly hit the wall at Turn 16 but held it together to take his third pole in a row.

“It was stressful, stressful as hell! I didn’t know no-one else was going to get a lap after me. I knew I felt like the first two sectors were good but it’s so slippery out there. As soon as you hit the kerb a little bit wrong like I did, you snap one way, you lose the car the other way, close to hitting the wall but good enough for P1 today.”

Why Sainz’s Performance Matters

Sainz‘s impressive qualifying run shows he’s thriving at Williams right now. Starting third puts him right in the mix for the race. He’s proven he handles wet conditions better than most.

You might remember Sainz was famous for his rain-driving skills. This performance confirms he still has it. Third position gives him a solid shot at points today. That’s crucial for both him and Williams heading into the final races.

George Russell topped both Q1 and Q2 in the wettest part of the session. However, the Mercedes driver slipped to fourth in Q3. Oscar Piastri grabbed fifth after originally struggling.

Las Vegas Grid Results

Here’s how the top 10 will line up for today’s race. Conditions were brutally wet throughout, changing the typical pecking order. Norris’s pole caps off a dominant weekend for McLaren.

Grid Position	Driver	Team	Qualifying Time
1st	Lando Norris	McLaren	1:47.934
2nd	Max Verstappen	Red Bull	1:48.257
3rd	Carlos Sainz	Williams	1:48.296
4th	George Russell	Mercedes	1:53.144
5th	Oscar Piastri	McLaren	1:54.544

The wet track created chaos throughout qualifying. Standing water at Turn 14 and Turns 15-16 forced multiple drivers deep into run-off zones. Nearly every driver made a mistake somewhere.

What To Watch For Today

Can Sainz hold third off the line? Verstappen’s second place means he’ll be hunting Norris at Turn 1. This trio should battle it out.

• Rain predictions: Track conditions likely improve if weather clears but rain could return
• Strategy: Tire management matters after a wet qualifying. Degradation is hard to predict
• Safety cars: Wet Vegas streets mean yellow flags are likely during the race
• Pit stops: Two stops might be needed depending on how wet conditions persist
• Championship battle: Norris vs Piastri drama could play out even from fifth

Can Sainz Pull Off A Surprise Win?

History shows wet-weather specialists thrive on street circuits. And Sainz is exactly that. Starting third gives him options that Russell won’t have from fourth. If rain stays around, look for Sainz to threaten the top two.

The race starts at 8:00 PM PT today (November 23). Will Sainz improve from his pole-worthy qualifying run to claim victory? Today we’ll find out.

Sources

• Formula1.com – Official qualifying report and driver quotes
• ESPN F1 – Qualifying highlights and analysis
• FIA – Official race documentation