Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc earned the pole position for the 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix early Saturday morning.
Leclerc edged out Ferrari teammate Carlos Sainz, who placed second. Red Bull star Max Verstappen qualified third, while George Russell of Mercedes and Pierre Gasly of Alpine rounded out the top five.
Leclerc finished qualifying at 1:32.726, just ahead of Sainz at 1:32.770, and finished first in two of the three practice sessions as well. However, Sainz has been docked 10 spots on the grid because of an engine penalty.
This marks Leclerc’s fourth pole position this year and third in the past four races, although he has yet to win a race. The 26-year-old’s best finish this year has been third, which he achieved from the pole spot twice, once at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in April and again at the Mexico City Grand Prix last month.
Gary A. Vasquez/USA Today network
Although Leclerc will be the pole sitter, he likely will need his best race to beat Verstappen, who has won 17 races this year, including 15 of the past 16. Only Sainz and Sergio Perez have won F1 races this year aside from Verstappen, with Perez winning twice and Sainz once.
The 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix will take place at 1 a.m. ET Sunday morning on ESPN.
