VERSTAPPEN STORMS INTO ANOTHER INCREDIBLE POLE POSITION FOR THE SPRINT RACE
Max Verstappen took pole position for the Sprint race at the United States Grand Prix after a great last lap in Sprint Qualifying. He beat both McLaren drivers, with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri close behind.
Earlier on Friday, Norris was fastest in the only practice session, but things changed once Sprint Qualifying began. The first part of qualifying started at 4:30 p.m. in hot weather, 33°C. Drivers had to use medium tyres. Isack Hadjar was first out, and many others followed. Verstappen set the best early time with a lap of 1:34.140, just ahead of Hamilton.
Charles Leclerc was at risk of being knocked out but managed to improve to 13th place and moved on to the next round. Several drivers, including Yuki Tsunoda, failed to start a final lap in time and were eliminated. Norris ended SQ1 on top with a time of 1:33.224, slightly faster than Verstappen.
Knocked out in SQ1: Bearman, Colapinto, Tsunoda, Ocon, Bortoleto
In SQ2, drivers again had to use medium tyres. Verstappen set the pace early, but Norris went faster with a 1:33.033 lap. McLaren looked strong again, while Ferrari struggled. Leclerc and Hamilton just managed to make it through to the final round, with Leclerc in P8 and Hamilton in P10. Young driver Kimi Antonelli missed out by only six thousandths of a second.
Knocked out in SQ2: Antonelli, Hadjar, Gasly, Stroll, Lawson
The final part, SQ3, lasted eight minutes, and drivers switched to soft tyres. George Russell set the first good time, but soon others improved. Nico Hulkenberg briefly took the top spot, then Norris went even faster with a 1:32.214. Piastri followed in second, but Verstappen, the last to cross the line, beat them both with a 1:32.143, just 0.071 seconds quicker than Norris.
Hulkenberg ended up in fourth, his best result since his podium at Silverstone. Russell took fifth, Alonso sixth, and the Williams pair finished seventh and ninth. Hamilton and Leclerc completed the top ten in what was a difficult session for Ferrari.
The Sprint will take place on Saturday at 12:00 local time.
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