After a wet and sometimes wild qualifying session, in Las Vegas, Kiwi F1 driver Liam Lawson has qualified sixth for tomorrow’s race.
The Racing Bulls driver clocked a fastest time of 1m 49.062s around the slippery Las Vegas Strip Circuit – running 10th fastest in Q1 and sixth fastest in Q2.
Lawson will line up sixth on the grid, his best qualifying result since September, behind McLaren’s Oscar Piastri.
It continues a good run of recent form for the Kiwi driver, who finished seventh in the last Grand Prix in São Paulo.
Lawson, who is still in competition for a full-time race seat next year, got a leg up above his seat rival Yuki Tsunoda – who will line up on the back row in 19th alongside seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton in 20th.
Championship leader Lando Norris of McLaren secured another defiant pole position to further cement his title credentials ahead of tomorrow’s race.
Norris will be joined on the front row alongside reigning world champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull, with Williams’ Carlos Sainz finishing out the top three.
Close call in practice
The positive result for Lawson comes after a near miss during the final practice session (FP3) just a few hours earlier, when he had a close call with Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton.
Halfway through FP3, Hamilton nearly collided with Lawson's Racing Bulls VCARB 02 on turn 15.
Hamilton was completing a push lap and was coming into the corner at pace while four other cars were on track ahead of him.
Lawson slowed to take the curve just as Hamilton reached it, forcing the seven-time world champion to veer to the right and terminate his lap to avoid colliding.
The race stewards assessed the near-incident and neither driver was penalised.
The Las Vegas Grand Prix will take place Sunday (5pm NZT).
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