Max Verstappen secures pole position in the United States GP Sprint Qualifying, while Lando Norris qualifies in fourth place

Max Verstappen Secures First Pole Position Since June’s Austrian GP; Lando Norris Disappointed with Fourth Place, George Russell Takes Second

Max Verstappen will lead the Formula 1 grid for the first time in nearly four months after earning pole position for the Sprint at the United States Grand Prix, while his main rival, Lando Norris, could only manage a fourth-place finish. This situation is critical in the championship race, as Norris is rapidly losing the opportunity to close the gap to Verstappen.

As the weekend commenced—one that has seen Red Bull’s car draw significant attention for various reasons—Verstappen showcased his ability to remain calm and focused, adapting well to the limited hour of practice time available. He set the fastest qualifying time just ahead of Mercedes’ George Russell, finishing 0.012 seconds ahead. The atmosphere surrounding this race has intensified the competition, especially for those jockeying for position in the championship.

The short 19-lap Sprint race, set to start at 7 p.m., is expected to be thrilling, offering eight crucial points to the winner—an important boost as the championship nears its conclusion. This race marks the first instance where the current championship leader will begin from pole since the Austrian GP on June 30, coinciding with the last Sprint of the season. As the remaining races grow increasingly significant, Verstappen’s placement at the front of the grid could play a vital role in maintaining his lead.

Completing his SQ3 run last, Verstappen clocked a well-executed 1:32.833 lap at the Circuit of the Americas, narrowly edging out Russell, who was the initial car to hit the track during the session. This timing strategy worked in Verstappen’s favor, giving him the chance to set a fast lap before possible changes in track conditions.

Conversely, Lando Norris, trailing Verstappen by 52 points in the championship standings, expressed frustration at finishing fourth. With limited time to reclaim ground on Verstappen, Norris is well aware that he needs to elevate his performance in upcoming races. He will line up on the second row alongside third-placed Charles Leclerc from Ferrari, complicating his chances for a better finish.

In another surprise for Constructors’ Championship leaders McLaren, Oscar Piastri could only qualify in 16th place after losing his best time in SQ1 due to a track limits violation at Turn 19. This incident highlights the pivotal nature of every aspect of a race weekend.

On the Red Bull side, Sergio Perez struggled again, exiting in SQ2 and qualifying in 11th place, raising concerns about his reliability and performance within the team amidst mounting pressure.

Lewis Hamilton, a five-time winner at this track, finished in seventh place but felt he could have achieved pole if not for a yellow flag that disrupted his SQ3 lap at Turn 12. Having clocked a time four-tenths faster than Russell in the first sector, Hamilton’s lap fell apart during the middle sector when Williams’ Franco Colapinto went off just ahead of him.

This unfortunate sequence put Hamilton behind fifth-placed Carlos Sainz of Ferrari and Haas’ Nico Hulkenberg, who continues to deliver strong performances in qualifying. The two Haas drivers showed remarkable competitiveness, with Kevin Magnussen securing eighth place alongside his teammate.

Finishing off the top ten were Yuki Tsunoda from Red Bull and Williams’ Colapinto, who managed to outqualify teammate Alex Albon after Albon’s unfortunate spin led to an early exit in SQ1. This qualifying session has set the scene for what promises to be an exciting Sprint race as drivers prepare to battle for points and prestige.

United States GP Sprint Qualifying Timesheet

Driver	Team	Time
1) Max Verstappen	Red Bull	1:32.833
2) George Russell	Mercedes	+0.012
3) Charles Leclerc	Ferrari	+0.226
4) Lando Norris	McLaren	+0.250
5) Carlos Sainz	Ferrari	+0.256
6) Nico Hulkenberg	Haas	+0.350
7) Lewis Hamilton	Mercedes	+0.545
8) Kevin Magnussen	Haas	+0.565
9) Yuki Tsunoda	RB	+0.969
10) Franco Colapinto	Williams	+1.573
Knocked out in SQ2
11) Sergio Perez	Red Bull	1:34.244
12) Pierre Gasly	Alpine	1:34.363
13) Lance Stroll	Aston Martin	No SQ2 time set
14) Fernando Alonso	Aston Martin	No SQ2 time set
15) Liam Lawson	RB	No SQ2 time set
Knocked out in SQ1
16) Oscar Piastri	McLaren	1.34.881
17) Esteban Ocon	Alpine	1.34.917
18) Alex Albon	Williams	1.35.054
19) Valtteri Bottas	Sauber	1.35.148
20) Zhou Guanyu	Sauber	1.36.472