US Grand Prix Sprint qualifying result: Who took pole for Saturday's Austin F1 race
The United States Grand Prix is using the F1 Sprint format for the second year in a row, providing Lando Norris the chance to take a further chunk out of Max Verstappen's lead in the title race
by Daniel Moxon · The MirrorMax Verstappen has the chance to extend his championship lead over Lando Norris after securing pole position for the United States Grand Prix Sprint race.
The Dutchman edged out George Russell to get his Austin race weekend off to the perfect start. In doing so, Verstappen made sure he will start an F1 race - Sprint or full Grand Prix - at the front of the grid for the first time since the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in May.
Russell thought he had done enough for pole but will have to settle for the front row alongside the Red Bull, having been just 0.012 seconds slower on his fastest lap. Norris, meanwhile, had to settle for fourth and will have to work hard to get the better of his championship rival.
Verstappen smiled as he reflected on his result: "We had a good day. Sprint qualifying is always very difficult you never really know how much you can push, but I am happy with today. The whole day, the car was working quite well and of course I am very happy to be first. It has been a while!
"It is always very hectic. This track is amazing to drive and now, with new tarmac, a little bit of the very old tarmac, the bumpy stuff, it is not easy. It is the same for everyone, but to deal with it all over one lap is not always the easiest. But it is fun."
The Red Bull racer has been under pressure from Norris in recent months with the Brit closing the championship gap gradually, and is looking to the main Grand Prix as his best chance to damage the McLaren driver's hopes. Verstappen added: "We will do the best we can in the Sprint, but we know that the most points are available on Sunday so that is where we really want to do well."
It was a poor day overall for McLaren, who not only had Norris further down than they would have liked but also suffered an unexpected Q1 exit for Oscar Piastri, who had his best SQ1 lap deleted for a track limits violation. Norris cut a particularly frustrated figure after the session as he said: "It was not very good. P4, so not a great day.
"I have been struggling all day with the balance and the set-up, so in a way I am happy with P4 because it could have been a lot worse. But the lap was shocking - not a terrible day, it could have been worse, could have been better, so I will take it. I hope to go forward... but on pace we are where we deserve to be."
Norris did manage to split the Ferrari cars which had gone quickest overall in practice earlier in the day. Carlos Sainz topped the timesheets in that first session but had to settle for fifth on the grid for the Sprint, two places behind team-mate Charles Leclerc in third.
Lewis Hamilton made a mistake on his flying lap in SQ3 and so seventh place was no representative of his best pace. He split the two Haas cars with Nico Hulkenberg sixth, two places ahead of Kevin Magnussen, to further raise hopes of points on home soil for the American team. Yuki Tsunoda and the impressive Williams rookie Franco Colapinto rounded off the top 10, while Verstappen's team-mate Sergio Perez suffered another SQ2 exit.
Full US Grand Prix Sprint qualifying result
- Max Verstappen - Red Bull
- George Russell - Mercedes
- Charles Leclerc - Ferrari
- Lando Norris - McLaren
- Carlos Sainz - Ferrari
- Nico Hulkenberg - Haas
- Lewis Hamilton - Mercedes
- Kevin Magnussen - Haas
- Yuki Tsunoda - VCARB
- Franco Colapinto - Williams
- Sergio Perez - Red Bull
- Pierre Gasly - Alpine
- Lance Stroll - Aston Martin
- Fernando Alonso - Aston Martin
- Liam Lawson - VCARB
- Oscar Piastri - McLaren
- Esteban Ocon - Alpine
- Alex Albon - Williams
- Valtteri Bottas - Sauber
- Zhou Guanyu - Sauber
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