AUSTIN, Texas — Max Verstappen’s momentum keeps rolling.
After claiming pole for the F1 sprint race at the American Grand Prix on Friday, Verstappen had an almost flawless Saturday at the Circuit of the Americas. He not only won the sprint race earlier that day but also secured pole for Sunday’s main event, outpacing McLaren’s Lando Norris and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.
During the FIA press conference post-qualifying, Verstappen reflected, “I think the qualifying went well. The wind was stronger than the day before, which made conditions tricky.” He mentioned that while sector one was a bit challenging due to the car’s movement, it was a common issue for everyone. “In Q3, I felt the track wasn’t improving; it seemed to get a bit worse for many,” he added. Yet, he was pleased with progress compared to the previous day’s qualifying round.
The qualifying outcomes reveal clear winners and losers for the F1 United States Grand Prix, featuring Verstappen at the top.
| Line | Position | Driver | Team | Position | Driver | Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Row 1 | 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | 2 | Lando Norris | McLaren |
| Row 2 | 3 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 4 | George Russell | Mercedes |
| Row 3 | 5 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 6 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren |
| Row 4 | 7 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 8 | Oliver Bearman | Hearth |
| Row 5 | 9 | Carlos Sainz Jr. | Williams | 10 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin |
| Row 6 | 11 | Nico Hulkenberg | Sauber | 12 | Liam Lawson | VCARB |
| Row 7 | 13 | Hiroki Tsunoda | Red Bull | 14 | Pierre Gasly | Takayama |
| Row 8 | 15 | Franco Colapinto | Takayama | 16 | Gabriel Bortleto | Sauber |
| Row 9 | 17 | Esteban Ocon | Hearth | 18 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin |
| Row 10 | 19 | Alexander Albon | Williams | 20 | Isaac Hajar | VCARB |
If there were any doubts about competing in the United States Grand Prix, they should be dismissed now. The comeback is clearly on track.
Verstappen secured pole in the F1 sprint race on Friday, grabbing a win that added crucial points to his season total. As his main competitors, Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, watched from the sidelines after an early incident, Verstappen inched closer, now just 33 points behind Norris and 55 points behind Piastri.
Verstappen’s strong qualifying should help him close the gap further, with Norris alongside him on the front row. If they maintain their positions, Verstappen could significantly cut down Piastri’s advantage from sixth place.
Despite missing a critical lap in Q3, Verstappen expressed satisfaction, noting his car’sstrong performance across various sections, mentioning the tricky conditions with heat and wind. He acknowledged that not being able to execute that last run didn’t hurt their chances.
In more numbers, if Verstappen, Norris, and Piastri finish where they started, their championship points would read: Piastri 344, Norris 332, and Verstappen 306. With five race weekends remaining, including two sprint races, there’s still plenty to unfold.
Isaac Hajar had a memorable weekend, qualifying for the F1 sprint race and wrapping it up in 12th place. However, his qualifying run on Saturday ended abruptly after crashing into the barriers early on, leading to a red flag. He joked about possibly crashing even more had there been additional practice sessions.
Reflecting on his previous experience in Austin, Hajar noted the challenges and missteps, but had a sense of humor about it all. Last year, Verstappen and Norris earned front-row spots, only to collide, allowing Leclerc to take advantage and seize the lead. Could something similar occur again?
Though Leclerc might not control the race’s dynamic, his solid qualifying position sets him up to capitalize on any mistakes by Verstappen and Norris at the start. Starting third, he’ll be eyeing an opportunity right from the lights out. His journey through qualifying was marked by overcoming a spin at Turn 20, managing to finish third, which he described as a pleasant surprise given the challenges of the preceding weekend.
Meanwhile, Oscar Piastri leads the Drivers’ Championship, holding a 22-point advantage over Norris and 55 points over Verstappen. However, that divide somehow feels narrower seeing Verstappen’s recent surge in performance against Piastri’s struggles, especially with Verstappen starting at the front and Piastri in sixth.
Piastri himself acknowledged issues getting into a rhythm during qualifying and felt the pressure of navigating the demanding track. Now, as Sunday’s race approaches, he’ll need to clear several competitors to rekindle his title hopes.
Oliver Bearman faced a bitter end to the sprint race, receiving a penalty that pushed him out of contention for points. However, bouncing back, he secured an impressive eighth place in qualifying, affirming his growth as a driver after a challenging day.
Finally, Alexander Albon thought he’d managed to push through to Q2 but was ultimately undone by track limits, a disappointment he readily admitted to. Their team’s adjustments post-sprint helped, yet he notes there’s still work to refine balance in the coming races.
