On Saturday evening, Max Verstappen impressively secured pole position for the United States Grand Prix with a single fast run in Q3. At the Circuit of the Americas, the four-time world champion from Red Bull is unmatched. The competition can’t get close to his fastest time. Lando Norris records the second time, while World Championship leader Oscar Piastri only finishes sixth.
With his dominant performance in the qualifiers, Verstappen follows up his victory in the sprint race earlier in the day and increases the pressure on Piastri and his McLaren teammate Norris. Verstappen has already won the race in Austin three times before. The United States Grand Prix starts on Sunday at 19:00 UTC.
Here is a brief overview of the qualifiers for the United States Grand Prix.
Q1: Red Flag for Hadjar, McLarens Struggle
The qualifiers for the United States Grand Prix in Austin begin with a temperature of a whopping 33 degrees Celsius and an asphalt temperature of nearly fifty degrees. The McLarens of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris have recovered after their crash in the sprint race earlier in the day. The session has barely started when the red flag appears after Isack Hadjar parks his car in the wall in turn 6. His qualifiers are immediately over.
After the restart, Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc is at the top of the time list (1.33,525) after his first fast lap, ahead of Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton. Norris aborts his first attempt because he briefly goes through the sand. In the final phase of Q1, Verstappen records the fastest time (1.33,207) and Piastri (11th time), Norris (12th), and Tsunoda (14th) narrowly escape elimination.
Q1 Dropouts: Bortoleto, Ocon, Stroll, Albon, Hadjar.
Q2: Verstappen Dominates in First Sector
Max Verstappen makes a strong start, immediately setting the fastest time based on a powerful first sector: 1:32.701. Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris come closest to him. Verstappen remains the only driver in the subsequent part of Q2. He can afford to do so.
Behind him, a heated battle is underway for a place in the top ten and thus access to Q3. Haas driver Oliver Bearman barely makes it, finishing tenth. Yuki Tsunoda, however, does not make it this time.
Q2 Dropouts: Hülkenberg, Lawson, Tsunoda, Gasly, Colapinto.
Q3: Verstappen Unchallenged to Pole
Oscar Piastri continues to struggle with his car’s setup and doesn’t get further than 1:33.475 in his first fast run, conceding almost a full second to Max Verstappen who once again impresses with a seemingly perfect lap (1:32.510). Neither Lando Norris (1:32.904) nor George Russell (1:32.959) come close to Verstappen.
In the final fast runs, Verstappen’s pole position is no longer in danger. That’s just as well, as the Dutchman doesn’t get a second fast run due to a team miscalculation. However, he escapes unscathed. The margin with Norris in P2 is significant: 0.291 seconds. Leclerc and Russell take the second starting row. Oscar Piastri is the biggest loser, finishing in P6.
Top-10: Verstappen, Norris, Leclerc, Russell, Hamilton, Piastri, Antonelli, Bearman, Carlos Sainz Jr, Alonso.
