Lando Norris is optimistic about achieving his seventh pole position this season after a promising start in practice for the Las Vegas Grand Prix. Leading the drivers' championship by 24 points over Oscar
Piastri, Norris topped the timesheets, enhancing his chances for a first world title. He finished just 0.029 seconds ahead of Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli, with Ferrari's Charles Leclerc trailing by 0.161 seconds.
The second session faced interruptions due to a loose manhole cover at Turn 17, reminiscent of an issue from 2023. This prevented several drivers, including Piastri, Max Verstappen, George Russell, and Lewis Hamilton, from completing laps on soft tyres. Despite these challenges, Norris remains hopeful about starting at the front for Sunday's race.
Norris acknowledged that qualifying would be closely contested. "I think it's pretty tight between a lot of people," he said. He noted that many competitors didn't complete their laps but felt his team made progress from FP1 to FP2 and hoped for further improvements in FP3.
Norris has consistently outperformed Piastri since the Italian Grand Prix and has been on the podium 17 times in 2025. Only Verstappen has achieved more top-three finishes in a single season, with 18 in 2021 and 21 in 2023. Norris also secured pole positions in his last two races.
The McLaren driver is set to participate in his 150th grand prix, all with McLaren, matching David Coulthard's record with the team. However, Norris has faced difficulties in Las Vegas before, retiring from the race in 2023 and finishing sixth last year.
Looking Ahead to Race Day
Despite past struggles in Las Vegas, Norris is optimistic about improving this year. "It's always tricky here," he admitted but expressed confidence in the car's performance compared to last year. He felt positive from Lap 1 despite limited high-fuel running.
Piastri finished tenth and eighth over the past two years in Las Vegas but aims for better results this time around. Norris believes they have a better setup this year and are ready to compete strongly throughout the weekend.
Practice #McLaren | #LasVegasGPpic.twitter.com/PtWjduJKR5
— McLaren (@McLarenF1) November 21, 2025
A successful weekend could bring Norris closer to clinching the Formula One title as he continues to lead the championship standings. His consistent performances have positioned him as a strong contender for victory this season.
