FACTS AND STATS: Max Verstappen can win the drivers' title in Las Vegas if he and Lando Norris finish in their qualifying positions

George Russell grabbed a sensational pole position in Las Vegas, the Mercedes seemingly coming alive in the cooler evening conditions. But there were plenty of squabbles behind, with Ferrari managing to out-qualify their McLaren rivals, while Max Verstappen starts ahead of Lando Norris. Here are the best facts and stats from the Vegas Strip…

Russell has three poles this year – Canada, Britan and now Las Vegas. This was his fourth career pole position.
Carlos Sainz qualified second for the second year in a row here, although last year he did serve a 10-place grid drop. He’s missed out on pole here twice by a combined total of 0.142s.

This is the Spaniard’s second front row start in the last three races, after he won from pole in Mexico City.
Pierre Gasly was third, after Esteban Ocon started fourth in Sao Paulo. Gasly only has one other career top-three start, back at Qatar in 2021 but he did start fourth here last year.
Charles Leclerc was fourth, but his last two race victories came from P4 on the grid in both Monza and Austin.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - NOVEMBER 22: Pole position qualifier George Russell of Great Britain and — Russell claimed his first pole since Silverstone in Las Vegas

Max Verstappen was fifth, Lando Norris was sixth – Verstappen will win the championship if they finish in those positions.
The Dutchman won in Brazil from P17 on the grid, and while he has won from 10 different grid positions, he has never won from fifth.
Norris is starting outside the top three for just the third time in the last 14 races. He’s never won from outside the top five on the grid.

Yuki Tsunoda was seventh, having started third in Sao Paulo.
Oscar Piastri starts eighth, having been out-qualified by his team mate for the fifth straight race.
Nico Hulkenberg bagged his 10th Q3 appearance of the season for Haas.
Lewis Hamilton was 10th, but would have been in the top three if he had managed to repeat his Q2 lap time.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - NOVEMBER 22: Third placed qualifier Pierre Gasly of France and Alpine F1 — Gasly backed up his Sao Paulo podium with a top three grid slot in Vegas

Kevin Magnussen had reached Q3 at his last two race appearances, but had to settle for P12 in Vegas after making the top 10 shootout here last year.
Zhou Guanyu bagged his best qualifying of the year in 13th with his first Q2 since Silverstone.
France Colapinto managed to out-qualify Alex Albon for the second time since joining Williams.
Sergio Perez suffered his sixth Q1 elimination of the season with P16, having finished on the podium here last season.

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Fernando Alonso managed his first Q1 elimination since Monaco in May.
Alex Albon was knocked out in Q1 for the fourth time this season. He starts 18th, having been in the top 10 here in qualifying last year.
Valtteri Bottas was out-qualified by his team mate for just the second time this season, but the Finn does have a five-place grid drop for the Grand Prix here.
Lance Stroll was only able to complete one flying lap after a mechanical problem in FP3 curtailed his running, and props up the field.