Max Verstappen clinched pole position for the US Grand Prix sprint race, ending a 12-event stretch without a pole since the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in May.
Verstappen secured the pole in a fast-paced qualifying session, clocking a leading time of one minute and 32.833 seconds, narrowly outpacing Mercedes’ George Russell by just 0.012 seconds, with Charles Leclerc of Ferrari finishing third on the grid.
Lando Norris of McLaren, trailing Verstappen by 52 points in the championship standings, qualified fourth. He was followed by Carlos Sainz of Ferrari and Nico Hulkenberg of Haas.
Reflecting on his performance, Verstappen expressed satisfaction, “We had a good day. Sprint qualifying is always challenging; you’re never sure how hard to push, but the car was responding well.”
Verstappen added, “It feels great to be back at the top. This track is fantastic to drive.”
Conversely, Norris shared his frustration with difficulties balancing his car’s setup, “We are struggling. My lap was disappointing. I aim to move up in the sprint, although we’re currently where we should be based on our pace.”
George Russell also commented on his performance, “I’m pleased. It’s been a while since we’ve been this competitive. The car feels great, and it’s tight at the top.”
Behind them, seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton placed seventh for Mercedes, followed by Kevin Magnussen of Haas, Yuki Tsunoda of RB, and Williams’ Franco Colapinto.
Red Bull’s Sergio Perez and McLaren’s Oscar Piastri did not make it to the top ten shootout.
The day began warmly with a track temperature of 35 degrees Celsius. Leclerc initially led after the first session, which witnessed several early exits, including McLaren’s Piastri and Alex Albon of Williams, who spun out at the final corner in his 100th Grand Prix.
The second session saw all drivers opt for medium tires, with Hamilton initially setting the fastest time until Sainz took over the lead. Red Bull delayed their entries, but Verstappen quickly moved to second place on his first lap. He later reported difficulties with the ride to his team over the radio amidst a day of controversy surrounding Red Bull’s ride-height device.
At the session’s close, Tsunoda’s performance pushed Perez out of the top ten, alongside other drivers like Pierre Gasly of Alpine and the Aston Martin drivers.
In the final session, the two Mercedes led out, with Russell topping the leaderboard until Verstappen’s late lap secured him pole position, setting the stage for an exciting sprint race.
