VERSTAPPEN TAKES POLE FOR THE UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX AFTER DOMINANT QUALIFYING PERFORMANCE
Max Verstappen took pole position for the United States Grand Prix after setting the fastest lap early in Q3. He couldn’t start a second lap before time ran out, but his first effort was still enough to keep him in front.
After the drama of the Sprint earlier in the day, all eyes turned to qualifying at the Circuit of The Americas, which would decide the grid for Sunday’s race.
The first part of qualifying started with a line of cars waiting in the pit lane. Ocon led the way, while the McLarens of Norris and Piastri joined later after crashing out early in the Sprint.
The session was stopped early when Hadjar spun and hit the wall, bringing out the red flag. He was fine but clearly frustrated, hitting the steering wheel as marshals cleared his damaged car.
Once qualifying restarted, most drivers went out on soft tyres. Hamilton started on used medium tyres but soon switched to softs too. Norris had a messy first lap, running wide and abandoning it, while Leclerc went fastest with a 1:33.525, just ahead of Verstappen.
Norris improved on his next lap but could only manage seventh, one place behind Piastri. Near the back, Stroll, Colapinto, Albon, Bortoleto, and Hadjar were all in danger of being knocked out.
Russell and rookie Antonelli briefly went first and second before Verstappen took back the top spot with a 1:33.207. Colapinto managed to scrape into 15th, but Albon’s good lap was deleted for going off track. Stroll also lost his best time for track limits, leaving him 18th (and last after a penalty). Bortoleto, Ocon, and Hadjar were also out.
Out in Q1: Bortoleto, Ocon, Stroll, Albon, Hadjar
In the second session, everyone used soft tyres again. Verstappen led the way with a time of 1:32.701, followed by Leclerc, Norris, and Hamilton. Piastri sat in seventh, uncomfortably close to the drop zone.
At the bottom, Lawson, Russell, Tsunoda, Colapinto, and Gasly were at risk. Gasly’s first lap was deleted for track limits. Russell went out early and improved to sixth, while Verstappen stayed in the garage, confident in his time.
In the final moments, Tsunoda stayed 13th, Hulkenberg missed out in 11th, and Gasly could only reach 14th. Colapinto ended up last.
Out in Q2: Hulkenberg, Lawson, Tsunoda, Gasly, Colapinto
Ten drivers remained for the fight for pole: Verstappen, Norris, Piastri, Hamilton, Russell, Antonelli, Leclerc, Sainz, Alonso, and rookie Bearman.
Most drivers used fresh soft tyres, though a few – including Piastri, Bearman, Alonso, and Sainz – went with used ones. After the first runs, Verstappen led again with a 1:32.510, nearly four-tenths ahead of Norris. Russell and Antonelli followed in third and fourth. Leclerc spun in the last corner, ruining his lap.
As the final runs began, Red Bull worried Verstappen might not cross the line in time to start another lap – and they were right. He missed out, leaving his earlier time to stand.
No one could beat it. Norris ended up second, 0.291 seconds behind Verstappen, and Leclerc recovered to third. Russell and Hamilton took fourth and fifth, with Piastri in sixth. Antonelli, Bearman, Sainz, and Alonso completed the top ten.
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