Austin, Texas — max verstappen beat mclaren drivers lando norris And oscar piastri securing pole position for Saturday’s US Grand Prix sprint race to keep the heat on in the title race.
Verstappen’s late lap for the short race was 0.071 seconds faster than Norris, who trails teammate Piastri by 22 points in the championship battle. Verstappen trails Piastri by 63 points but has been getting closer since the summer break.
Although there are only eight points available from Saturday’s sprint race – which is held before qualifying for Sunday’s main event – it will only serve to increase the pressure the McLaren drivers are feeling from the defending champions.
Norris and Piastri came into the weekend following their clash at the Singapore Grand Prix two weeks ago. While both are free to race, a collision while fighting for position in the sprint could open the door to another Verstappen scoring points.
Verstappen’s pole lap appeared to confirm that he will battle the McLaren drivers for pole position for Sunday’s Grand Prix, with the next closest car half a second behind him, giving further insight into the weekend’s events at the Circuit of the Americas.
Sauber’s was the best of the rest Nico HulkenbergWho achieved a popular and long-awaited first career podium at the British Grand Prix earlier this year. Hulkenberg to start fourth, ahead of Singapore Grand Prix winner george russell and two-time champion fernando alonso,
Ferrari had claimed a spectacular victory at the Circuit of the Americas 12 months earlier, but turned in another underwhelming performance, Lewis Hamilton And charles leclerc Set to start from eighth and tenth respectively.
williams driver carlos saenz And Alex Albon will share places either side of Hamilton after an impressive performance leading up to SQ3.
mercedes driver andrea kmy antonelli Failed to get out of SQ2, relegated to 10th by Hamilton.
Like teammate Russell, Antonelli came into this week’s action with his contract through 2026 finally settled.
Racing Bulls’ Isak Hadjar was 11th, ahead of Alpine pierre gasly and aston martin lance stroll,
Liam Lawson No time set in SQ2 and will start the sprint 15th.
Yuki Tsunoda He continued his disappointing season trend of failing to get out of the first qualifying session, and finished 18th, which would be another blow to Red Bull’s already slim chances of remaining in Formula 1 next year.
haas driver oliver bearman And esteban ocon failed to progress like alpine Franco ColapintoSauber’s gabriel bortoletto Failed to set a lap time so was not taken out of the session.
