All on red? Leclerc bids to end curse; rivals talk up Vegas 'unknowns'

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Ferrari's Charles Leclerc joins Sky Sports' Karun Chandhok to explain why he did not like his Las Vegas pole lap Ferrari's Charles Leclerc joins Sky Sports' Karun Chandhok to explain why he did not like his Las Vegas pole lap Charles Leclerc is determined to end his long wait to convert a pole position into a race win again, but the Ferrari polesitter and his likely rivals for victory are aware the outcome of the inaugural Las Vegas GP will likely be determined by F1's equivalent of 'playing your cards right'. Leclerc will head an exciting-looking mixed-up grid for lights out at 6am on Sunday - live on Sky Sports F1 and Sky Showcase - after a superb qualifying performance which the Monegasque said included the "best lap I have ever done in Formula 1" during Q2.He was not as happy with his performance in Q3, but his first lap in the shootout under the Las Vegas lights was still good enough to secure him a fifth pole position of the season and third in the last four races. Now for the crunch. Leclerc and Ferrari's problem has not been topping qualifying - he now has 24 poles in total in F1, the 12th most of all time - but converting them into wins. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player A round-up of all the action from Las Vegas qualifying as Leclerc took pole position A round-up of all the action from Las Vegas qualifying as Leclerc took pole position Incredibly, none of Leclerc's last 11 poles, dating back to the Australian GP in April 2022 have been followed up with Grand Prix victory.It is the challenge to end that sequence and Ferrari's trend to fall backwards from strong qualifying results - plus the unique aspects that come with racing at 10pm local time in Vegas - that are at the forefront of Leclerc's mind."Without a doubt tyre management will be what will make our race great or really bad," Leclerc told Sky F1."It always is like this; tyre management is always a big thing. But it's true that with these very cold temperatures the graining will be a thing, the loss of temperatures towards the end of the run will be a big thing as well."But I don't know - I felt good since the first lap in FP1 so I really hope we can convert that pole finally because there have been too many poles without converting it to victory because we didn't have the car [to win] on race day. I hope that [on Sunday] it will be the case." Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Leclerc gives his reaction to securing pole position for the Las Vegas GP following an eventful qualifying session Leclerc gives his reaction to securing pole position for the Las Vegas GP following an eventful qualifying session Team-mate Carlos Sainz, who had qualified alongside Leclerc on the front row but will drop back to 12th owing to a grid penalty, took Ferrari's only hitherto win this season the last time they raced on a street track, in Singapore in September.Leclerc has been stuck on five career wins since July 2022 and, put to him that Vegas would be the perfect place to party after winning again, said: "That would be the dream scenario! It would make up for the season I've had. Looking back, every time a really good result was on the cards something happened."But will Verstappen and Red Bull simply cash in again? Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Max Verstappen has called for a rule change after Carlos Sainz was given a 10-place grid penalty for damage from a manhole cover Max Verstappen has called for a rule change after Carlos Sainz was given a 10-place grid penalty for damage from a manhole cover With Ferrari denied what would have been a commanding front-row lockout by Sainz's controversial grid drop, Max Verstappen joins Leclerc at the head of the field for what will be a short run to the opening corner at the 6am lights out.Leclerc has been overtaken before the first turn the last two times he has started from pole - by Lando Norris in the USA and Verstappen in Mexico - and the latter will likely remain favourite for victory in most observers' minds given he has won 17 times from 20 races this season.Asked if Verstappen can again get ahead of Leclerc early on in Sunday's 50-lap race, Red Bull boss Christian Horner told Sky F1: "I think it will be different here but it's a track you can definitely overtake on. It's going to make it interesting." Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Ted Kravitz is in the paddock to review all the biggest stories from Las Vegas qualifying Ted Kravitz is in the paddock to review all the biggest stories from Las Vegas qualifying Verstappen's public expressions of dislike for the new Strip circuit and the glittering Las Vegas event as a whole have not shown any sign of detracting from