F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix qualifying produces mixed-up starting grid

McLaren has an uphill battle for the maiden Las Vegas Grand Prix, with both drivers being knocked out early in qualifying.

Key points:Both McLaren drivers were knocked out in Q1 in Las VegasFerrari's Charles Leclerc qualified on pole positionThe Las Vegas Grand Prix will be held on Sunday afternoon AEDT

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc secured his 23rd career pole position, ahead of teammate Carlos Sainz and Red Bull's Max Verstappen.

McLaren has been one of the best performers in the second half of the season, but struggled around the streets of Vegas, with Lando Norris 16th fastest and Australian Oscar Piastri 19th.

The British team is locked in a tense battle with Aston Martin for fourth in the constructors' championship, with McLaren leading by 21 points.

Both Aston Martin drivers finished ahead of Norris and Piastri, however grid-place penalties for Lance Stroll for yellow-flag infringements has him starting 19th, boosting both McLarens up a place.

"I think the pace in the car is quite good, we just got caught out a bit by not using a second set of tyres," Piastri said.

"The car was pretty decent in [third practice] and at the start of qualifying we were sort of in a pretty normal spot around the top-five.

"As the track improved or as others put another set of tyres on, we didn't and that explains it."

McLaren CEO Zak Brown said he expected Las Vegas would be a challenge for his cars, but their disappointing qualifying was a surprise.

"Very disappointed. We thought we'd struggle this weekend, but I didn't think either car would be out in Q1," he told British broadcaster Sky Sports.

"So not a good start to the weekend. All we can do now is focus on the race."

New circuit throws up jumbled grid

Red Bull's Sergio Perez and Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton were both knocked out of Q2 in Las Vegas, a surprising result from two drivers who are battling for second place in the drivers' championship.

"I couldn't go faster mate," Hamilton said over his team radio, while Red Bull's tactics will be questioned as Perez was not doing his flying lap at the end of the session when the track was at its fastest.

Meanwhile, American Logan Sargeant made it into the top 10 in qualifying for the first time in his F1 career.

The rookie has struggled for Williams, qualifying last in the previous five races.

Sargeant qualified seventh, while his teammate Alex Albon qualified sixth.

The weekend has been laced in drama, with the first day of driving marred by safety issues with the track.

Sainz drove over a loose drain cover which damaged his chassis, front wing, battery and power-unit.

The change of the power-unit led to a 10-place grid penalty for Sainz, meaning the Spaniard will start 12th despite being second fastest.

The opening day then ended with the second practice session being completed in front of no fans, who were kicked out due to a lack of staff available at the circuit.