Andrew Benson
BBC F1 correspondent in Las Vegas

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Mercedes driver George Russell pipped Ferrari's Carlos Sainz to pole position at the Las Vegas Grand Prix with the final lap of an engrossing qualifying session.

Russell snuck ahead of Sainz by just 0.098 seconds while Alpine's Pierre Gasly pulled off a major shock by taking third place.

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc was fourth after a messy session, while Red Bull's Max Verstappen took fifth, ahead of his title rival Lando Norris of McLaren.

Norris needs to finish the race ahead of Verstappen to take the title fight to the next race in Qatar.

Two errors by Lewis Hamilton consigned him to 10th place in his Mercedes when he should have been fighting for a place at the front with Russell.

Read the full report here

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Can George Russell convert his third pole position of the season into a race win? His other two poles saw him finish third in Canada and retire at Silverstone, so is Las Vegas his moment to shine?

In terms of the title fight, the top two are down in fifth and sixth. But it's Max Verstappen, leading Lando Norris in the drivers' championship by 62 points, who is starting one place better than his rival.

Verstappen needs only to just finish higher than Norris to claim a fourth consecutive trophy, while Norris has to outscore the Dutchman by three points to keep the battle going in Qatar next weekend.

And then there's Alpine. Pierre Gasly has the chance to secure more points so the French team can keep hold of that sixth place they took with that double podium in Brazil.

Get yourselves back here on Sunday for race build-up from 05:15 GMT. Light out in Sin City are at 06:00 GMT.

See you tomorrow!

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Lando Norris will start in sixth for tomorrow's race, he told Sky Sports: "The top three were out of reach, the Mercedes have been quick all weekend that's clear, Ferrari have been with them. Red Bull and ourselves have been a decent chunk behind and that showed today.

"We expect a little bit more than where we were that's for sure, it could have been if the lap came together but we were just struggling at every corner with something different, one lap it works and the next lap it doesn't.

"It was too difficult basically, it was too difficult a challenge with our car. When you're trying to find lap time but also not go over the limit, it's a difficult balance."

On the title fight: "I will do everything I can, that's what I'm here to do. I'm not going to give up till the end even if chances are extremely thin. I'm here to do the best in every race I can whether I'm fighting for a championship or not."

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Lewis Hamilton spoke to Sky Sports after finishing qualifying in P10: "It is what it is, it's been a good weekend so far so I will give it my best shot tomorrow but congrats to George.

"The conditions were great, it was nice and cool and it's been really nice all weekend."

On tomorrow's race: "I'm really quite far back so I will see what I can do from there, degradation is going to be key and we had an eventful race here last year."

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Pierre Gasly starts in third for the Las Vegas GP, he said: “It’s unbelievable honestly we didn’t think we would be able to achieve a top three in qualifying. It was an incredible lap especially around this track when you’re flirting with the walls everywhere through the lap and there is a lot of adrenaline and excitement.

“I knew crossing the line it was a good lap but when they came on the radio telling me I was lining up in third tomorrow, it’s just amazing and I’m really happy.”

On the track itself: “I was getting cold in the car, we had to wait so long before Q3 I just wanted to get going. We had a good first run, that last lap was the one that mattered with the new tyre and I really managed to nail it.

“The car felt great, I must say it’s an incredible period for the team following the double podium in Brazil so hopefully we can stay out there tomorrow.”

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Ferrari's Carlos Sainz, who start on the front row in P2: "It was a tight quali; a bit closer to pole than I was expecting. Actually, I had pole and then George was very, very quick at the end. But I'm very happy.

I think we are starting in a good position for tomorrow compared to last year - I was P12 on the grid because of the famous drain cover. Here I start P2, so hopefully we can make it a better one.

On Ferrari's race pace being strong: "We need to stay confident that we can be fighting at the front tomorrow, even more than today. Today, we were close in quali and tomorrow we might have a chance at going for the win - and that will be the target. Obviously, passing and strategy will be a big thing tomorrow. I feel like today, we were very good at switching those tyres on. Tomorrow is a clean sheet, new start, and let's see how the cars behave in high fuel."

On the constructors' championship and Ferrari's fight with McLaren: "I think we need the win, because it's not like we can afford just to be in front of them. If they have a big gap in the championship, then that means we are going to Qatar, which is not going to be a good track for us, we are going to be struggling there, so we need to win."

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George Russell takes his third pole of the season in his Mercedes, he said: “Honestly absolutely not [think we would have that pace], it’s incredible to be back on pole, we’ve been so quick all weekend and I just knew coming in to the last Q3 lap it’s going to be the one that counts, it doesn’t matter what has happened before then.

“I had a bit of a moment in my first run and we had to change the front wing so for a moment I didn’t think we were going to make the flag but I’m just so happy. We’ve got to do some deep dive to understand why it’s been so quick so far this weekend because it’s a real surprise.”

On making calls inside the cockpit, he added: “Ultimately you’ve got to put it on the table sometimes and I felt confident in myself and I knew if I did a clean lap it would be enough to secure a front row so to get pole position is incredible. Ultimately, we’ve had a few good qualifying’s recently but we need to convert that into a win now.”

On racing in Las Vegas, he said: “It’s great, late night and good atmosphere here and I’m excited for the race now.”

Toto Wolff tells Sky Sports that maybe all Mercedes needs is the cold, British-like weather to make the car come alive.

While the team principal continues chatting - he does also say "any team could win tomorrow" - let's have a look at what the top three had to say...

Pole position number three for the season for George Russell. His engineer said, and I have no idea what this is, so please forgive me, "Zoobarbar" (?!) when the Mercedes driver secured the front-row spot. If you know what that means, and how on earth you spell it, let me know.

11. Esteban Ocon (Alpine)

12. Kevin Magnussen (Haas)

13. Zhou Guanyu (Sauber)

14. Franco Colapinto (Williams)

15. Liam Lawson (RB)

16. Sergio Perez (Red Bull)

17. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)

18. Alex Albon (Williams)

19. Valtteri Bottas (Sauber)

20. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)

1. George Russell (Mercedes) - 1:32.312

2. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari)

3. Pierre Gasly (Alpine)

4. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)

5. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)

6. Lando Norris (McLaren)

7. Yuki Tsunoda (RB)

8. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)

9. Nico Hulkenberg (Haas)

10. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)

Harry Benjamin
BBC F1 Commentator

Fantastic for Pierre Gasly in the Alpine following up his podium last time out in Sao Paulo.

Lando Norris and Max Verstappen have both been beaten by the Alpine of Pierre Gasly, however, in their personal battle, it's the Red Bull driver who has the upper hand.

Verstappen qualified in fifth and Norris in sixth, so they will be sharing a row on Sunday (Saturday night in Vegas), it just won't be the front one.

Alice Powell
British racing driver on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

Lewis Hamilton is going to be hugely disappointed because he certainly had a chance to join George Russell up there.

"Lost the back end."

It's been a solid weekend for Lewis Hamilton so far, but when it mattered, the seven-time world champion finds himself disappointed after qualifying. The Mercedes man will start 10th tomorrow.

But Ferrari team-mate Carlos Sainz sweeps through and takes the top spot!

Lando Norris goes second behind George Russell but Charles Leclerc goes on to provisional pole!

Alice Powell
British racing driver on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

Everyone seems to be taking another build, as the temperatures are starting to drop they are finding they need extra time out there.