RUSSELL ON POLE WITH LATE DASH

It's the 4th one in his career; Verstappen is 5th on grid just ahead of rival Norris

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LAS VEGAS - George Russell left it late to take pole position for Mercedes at the Las Vegas Grand Prix on Nov 22, as Red Bull's Formula One championship leader Max Verstappen qualified ahead of McLaren rival Lando Norris.

Verstappen, who will seal a fourth successive championship on Nov 23 (Nov 24, Singapore time) if he beats Norris, will line up fifth with the latter sixth and alongside him on the third row.

Ferrari's Carlos Sainz joined Russell at the front with Alpine's Pierre Gasly an impressive and surprising third fastest, while Charles Leclerc was fourth in the other Ferrari.

Russell had been on provisional pole after the first flying laps, but he left the best to last as others went faster on an improving track. His final effort of 1min 32.312sec was 0.098 quicker than Sainz, who had set the pace after an earlier best from Leclerc.