Carlos Sainz will start the 2025 Las Vegas Grand Prix from third after the stewards confirmed that no penalty was required for his Q1 incident. He had been investigated for possibly hindering Lance Stroll when rejoining the track at Turn 5. The review ended quickly once Aston Martin stated that they saw no issue, and Stroll himself confirmed that he was not affected. The officials also noted the low visibility caused by rain and the presence of a yellow flag in the sector.
The session itself was shaped by cold temperatures and a constantly changing track surface. Many drivers struggled to find grip or confidence, but Sainz adapted early and maintained a strong rhythm through all phases of qualifying. He described the session as one of the most demanding of the season, yet highlighted how comfortable he felt in the car from his first timed lap. His confidence increased as the conditions evolved and his lap times improved.
Sainz admitted that the timing of his final push may have been slightly early, which limited his chance of taking pole. He sensed that pole was possible for a brief moment, but Lando Norris and Max Verstappen produced faster laps at the end. Even so, he viewed third place as a strong outcome for the team and a realistic foundation for the race. His plan for Sunday is to defend the position firmly, given the long straights and overtaking opportunities on the Las Vegas layout.
Team principal James Vowles praised Sainz for delivering consistent front-running performance throughout the wet session. He also credited the crew for preparing a car that worked across slicks, intermediates and full wets. The team believes this adaptability will be valuable in the final, where weather uncertainty remains.
This is Sainz’s second top three start of the season. His previous one came in Azerbaijan, where he began from second and converted it into a podium finish. In Las Vegas, Lando Norris secured pole ahead of Max Verstappen, with Sainz completing the top three. The race will run over 50 laps of the 6201 meter street circuit, with formation scheduled for 1:00 PM Japan time on November 22.
