The United States Grand Prix promises a spectacle tonight, with a starting grid that guarantees an exciting race. Max Verstappen starts from pole position and is in top form in Austin. Will he triumph in Austin just as he did in the sprint race?
Lurking next to him on the starting grid is the threat of Lando Norris, second on the grid and second in the championship. The Brit crashed in yesterday’s sprint race and is determined to take revenge. Last year, he fought a fierce duel with Verstappen here, and a repeat of that would surprise no one.
Charles Leclerc starts third and seems to be the surprise of the weekend. While Ferrari was searching for a long time, the Monegasque found the speed at the right time. “We finally found something that works,” he said yesterday. Can he, from the second row, make a bid for a victory on American soil just like last year?
Further down the grid, championship leader Oscar Piastri (P6) has to chase. The Australian remained scoreless in the sprint race and sees Verstappen closing in on the title fight. At the back, it’s mainly frustration: Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) crashed in the qualification and starts on the last row, Alex Albon lost his impressive eighth time due to track limits, and Lance Stroll received a five-place penalty for his collision with Esteban Ocon in the sprint race, making him the tail end of the starting grid.
At 21.00 Dutch time, the lights turn green and everything points to a fiery evening in Austin.
