Analysis: Norris shines

Norris and Verstappen chat after the qualifying session for the Las Vegas GP — Photo: Mark Sutton – Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images The front row in the Las Vegas GP will surely provide excitement from the start. After all, a victory on Saturday night will carry significant weight in the championship. Verstappen knows that finishing behind Norris would mean the end of his dream for a fifth championship, and that is why he will go all out in Vegas. Fending off Verstappen’s attacks will be the ultimate test to show that Norris has what it takes to be the 2025 champion. Until now, in direct confrontations with Verstappen, the McLaren driver seemed less confident. However, Norris is currently in top form among the title contenders, so how will the Briton react? Will he continue with the boldness he has shown in the last races? Or will he play it safe, considering his advantage in the standings? According to his statements to journalists here in Las Vegas after the qualifying session, Norris exuded confidence – and that was evident on Friday night, when the McLaren driver shone with an impressive performance in extreme conditions. Drivers unanimously agreed that today’s practice felt like driving on ice, given the lack of grip even with rain tires. The weather forecast does not indicate rain overnight Sunday, and with a dry track, drivers and teams will face the challenge of heading into the race with minimal information on tire behavior over long stints, as the free practices did not allow for effective testing due to some interruptions. In this scenario, Verstappen’s experience could make a difference. Another standout in Friday’s practice was Carlos Sainz, who placed Williams in the second row, securing third place on the grid. Maintaining this position will be challenging on a dry track, but the Spaniard could surprise again tomorrow by taking risks in pit stop strategy, for instance. Mercedes saw George Russell take the fourth spot, slightly below expectations, considering the team has shown potential for victory on low-grip tracks. However, Ferrari faced a worse scenario, as Lewis Hamilton ended up in the last position on the grid, complaining about the lack of grip, while Charles Leclerc made a mistake in Q3 and settled for ninth place. Another driver who had a challenging qualifying was Gabriel Bortoleto. Driving a full session for the first time on rain tires, the Sauber driver admitted he couldn’t extract the best from his car, as he stated in an interview after the qualifying session. It is worth noting that ahead of him on the grid is Kimi Antonelli’s Mercedes, while behind him are Yuki Tsunoda’s RBR and Hamilton’s Ferrari, indicating that the issue faced by the rookie also affected the top teams. Oscar Piastri is another driver who needs to use the race to show improvement. With fifth place on the grid, he sees his dream of becoming a world champion slipping further away, contrasting with his teammate’s excellent performances in McLaren. He will need to advance early in the race to break into the top three and keep his title chances alive. The problem is that Piastri has usually struggled on low-grip tracks, as seen in Baku where he crashed on the first lap, and this weekend in Las Vegas. The start on Saturday night will be unmissable. The Norris vs. Verstappen rivalry promises an electrifying battle for victory in a race that could potentially decide the 2025 champion once and for all. My prediction, thinking of an even more balanced championship after this GP, is for Verstappen in first place, Norris in second, and Piastri in third.