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F1 NEWS: Team Slapped With Fine as Red Bull Apologise to Driver After Chaotic Las Vegas Grand Prix Qualifying
By Hugo Harvey
The Las Vegas Grand Prix weekend delivered yet another dramatic chapter under the neon lights of the Strip, as torrential rain, controversial decisions, and costly mistakes combined to produce one of the most chaotic qualifying sessions in recent Formula 1 history. Amid the chaos, one team was fined by the FIA for a breach of regulations, Red Bull were forced to issue an apology to one of their drivers, and Lewis Hamilton endured a nightmare session that saw him end qualifying in last place.
Wet weather transformed the already low-grip Las Vegas Strip Circuit into a treacherous challenge on Friday night. Rain fell steadily before and during qualifying, forcing teams to bolt on the rarely-used full wet tyres as drivers struggled to find even a hint of confidence on the slippery surface. The circuit, which has been criticised since its debut in 2023 for lacking grip, became even more unforgiving under the floodlights.
For Lewis Hamilton, the session was one to forget. The seven-time world champion suffered what many described as a new career low, failing to extract performance from his car throughout qualifying. His troubles were compounded on his final push lap when yellow flags were deployed in the final sector following an incident ahead. Hamilton crossed the line just over a second after the chequered flag had fallen, meaning the lap did not count, leaving him stranded at the back of the grid for Sunday’s race.
In stark contrast, Lando Norris delivered a sensational performance to claim pole position in the rain, taking another major step toward securing his first Formula 1 world championship. The McLaren driver kept his composure while others faltered, mastering the conditions to edge out Max Verstappen, who will line up second. Carlos Sainz completed the top three, continuing Ferrari’s strong form in mixed conditions.
However, qualifying was not without controversy. The FIA later confirmed that one team had been fined following a breach of operational regulations during the session. While details of the infringement were not race-altering, the governing body made it clear that procedures must be followed regardless of conditions, particularly in sessions affected by extreme weather where safety margins are already thin.
Meanwhile, Red Bull found themselves in an awkward spotlight after issuing a public apology to one of their drivers following events during the session. The Milton Keynes-based team acknowledged a breakdown in communication that left the driver exposed during a critical phase of qualifying. In a weekend already shaped by unpredictability, Red Bull admitted that the error added unnecessary pressure in conditions where driver confidence was already being pushed to the limit.
The decision by the FIA to start qualifying despite the heavy rain also sparked debate across the paddock. Alex Albon, who qualified 16th, questioned whether the session should have gone ahead at the scheduled time given how slippery the track had become. The Williams driver was the only one to crash during the session, losing control at the end of Q1 after applying the throttle too aggressively and striking the wall on the right-hand side, causing damage to his car.
Speaking after qualifying, Albon suggested that the governing body had taken a risk by allowing cars onto the circuit in such conditions, particularly on a track that already offers minimal grip even when dry. However, he stopped short of fully agreeing with Hamilton’s assessment that it was the slipperiest circuit he had ever driven on. Albon instead pointed to previous experiences on other street circuits, suggesting that while Las Vegas was extremely challenging, it was not entirely without precedent.
Since Formula 1 returned to Las Vegas in 2023, drivers have consistently raised concerns about grip levels on the Strip Circuit. This year’s event has only amplified those worries, with unseasonal rainfall creating a perfect storm of low temperatures, standing water, and minimal rubber laid down on the racing line.
Remarkably, despite the conditions, the session avoided mass chaos, with Albon’s crash standing as the lone major incident. Still, the combination of fines, apologies, and vocal criticism has once again placed the FIA’s decision-making under scrutiny.
As the grid prepares for Sunday’s race, all eyes will be on whether teams can recover from a bruising qualifying session. For Hamilton, it will be a fight through the field. For Norris, an opportunity to capitalise on pole position. And for Formula 1, Las Vegas continues to prove that under the lights, nothing ever goes quite to plan.
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