Las Vegas Grand Prix: Russell on pole in Las Vegas as Lawson qualifies 15th

George Russell has taken pole position for Mercedes at the Las Vegas Grand Prix as Red Bull's Formula One championship leader Max Verstappen qualified ahead of McLaren rival Lando Norris.

Verstappen, who could seal his fourth successive championship this weekend, will line up fifth on the starting grid with Norris sixth.

Ferrari's Carlos Sainz joined Russell on the front row with Alpine's Pierre Gasly an impressive third fastest.

Meanwhile, Red Bull driver Liam Lawson will start at 15th on the grid in the championship on Sunday night (NZT).

In the last practice session ahead of the qualifiers, Lawson complained about nearly getting "rear-ended" by his team-mate Yuki Tsunoda, who had to swerve to avoid hitting Lawson's car.

"Mate, Yuki just about rear-ended me," Lawson was heard saying following the near-miss.

But British commentator David Croft said on the Sky Sport feed that Tsunoda was not to blame.

"To be fair, Liam, what's he supposed to do when you're [sitting] in the middle of the track as he's coming into the braking zone," Croft said.

- Reuters/RNZ