Verstappen Seals Pole Position Ahead of Norris and Leclerc in Austin Qualifying
Max Verstappen looked in commanding form during Qualifying for the United States Grand Prix, the Dutchman clinching pole position despite a potential moment of drama in the final runs.
Max Verstappen has seized pole position for the United States Grand Prix, the Dutchman’s initial lap in Q3 proving enough to secure him the top spot after running out of time to put in a second effort.
Having set the pace through Q1 and Q2, Verstappen looked to have continued that theme by going quickest during the opening laps of Q3 on an effort of 1m 32.510s. While he attempted to go again in the final runs, the Red Bull driver did not reach the line before the chequered flag fell, meaning that he would have to rely on his earlier effort.
It turned out to be enough, with his time putting him 0.291s clear of closest challenger Lando Norris in second. The McLaren driver was only six-thousandths ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in third, while Mercedes’ George Russell slotted into fourth.
The other Ferrari of Lewis Hamilton claimed P5, with McLaren’s Oscar Piastri seemingly experiencing a tricky session in P6. Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli followed in P7, with Haas’ Ollie Bearman, the Williams of Carlos Sainz and Fernando Alonso in the Aston Martin rounding out the top 10.
Results of US Grand Prix available on F1.com
After his impressive Sprint Qualifying performance on Friday, Nico Hulkenberg was unable to replicate this in Saturday’s Qualifying. The Kick Sauber driver exited Q2 in 11th, putting him one position ahead of Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson in 12th.
Yuki Tsunoda took P13 for Red Bull, with the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto just behind in P14 and P15.
There was early drama just a few minutes into Qualifying when a crash for Isack Hadjar brought out the red flags, leaving the Racing Bulls man down in 20th and last place.
Track limits proved to be the undoing of Lance Stroll and Alex Albon in the segment, with the deletion of their respective laps putting the Aston Martin and Williams drivers in 18th and 19th respectively, though a five-place grid penalty for Stroll will drop him to the back. The other names to exit early doors, meanwhile, were Kick Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto (16th) and Haas’ Esteban Ocon (17th).