Verstappen Clinches Sprint Pole at US Grand Prix by 0.071s

Max Verstappen secured the Sprint pole position at the United States Grand Prix in Austin, narrowly edging out Lando Norris by just 0.071 seconds. This impressive performance comes as Verstappen aims to close the gap in the championship standings, having gained 41 points on current leader Oscar Piastri over the last three races. With six races remaining in the season, Verstappen now trails Piastri by 63 points, setting the stage for a potential title fight.

Norris initially showed his speed by topping the first two qualifying sessions, SQ1 and SQ2. However, Verstappen delivered a stellar final lap when it mattered most, leaving Piastri nearly four tenths behind. Commentator Martin Brundle remarked on Sky Sports F1, “Stunning final sector from Max Verstappen… Absolutely extraordinary the way he just kept the speed.” The Sprint event, taking place on Saturday at 18:00 local time, promises to showcase further high-stakes competition.

Qualifying Highlights

The top ten for the Sprint Qualifying featured Verstappen in first, followed by Norris and Piastri. The complete qualifying results were as follows:

1. Max Verstappen, Red Bull
2. Lando Norris, McLaren
3. Oscar Piastri, McLaren
4. Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber
5. George Russell, Mercedes
6. Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin
7. Carlos Sainz, Williams
8. Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
9. Alex Albon, Williams
10. Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Verstappen’s pole position came despite Red Bull’s mixed fortunes, as teammate Yuki Tsunoda did not complete a last flying lap due to timing issues and ended up in 18th place. Kimi Antonelli, who is set to join Mercedes in 2026 alongside Russell, narrowly missed qualifying for SQ3, finishing 11th by just 0.006 seconds.

A Competitive Edge

The atmosphere during the qualifying was charged, with Verstappen and Norris consistently trading places at the top of the timing sheets. The reigning world champion recorded a time 0.064 seconds quicker than Norris in the first sector, only for Norris to respond with a 0.025-second advantage in the second sector. Ultimately, it was a “crazy” final corner that allowed Verstappen to secure pole, as described by Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies.

After the session, Verstappen expressed satisfaction with his performance, stating, “It’s been a nice qualifying. Throughout all the segments we were quite close, just about trying to put it all together when it matters at the end.” He acknowledged the challenges posed by the bumpy track and gusty winds, adding, “I still expect it to be a tough battle tomorrow in the Sprint.”

McLaren’s Norris, despite being slightly off the pace, was optimistic about his chances. He commented, “Of course, I would have loved to be on pole… still pretty happy,” noting that he had faced some difficulties on the track.

As the teams prepare for the Sprint, the Circuit of the Americas is known for its demanding conditions, particularly the uphill run to Turn 1, which can lead to incidents. Given the previous contact between McLaren drivers in Singapore, both Norris and Piastri will be focused on avoiding mishaps while vying for position.

The Sprint event will award points to the top eight finishers in the following distribution: 8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1. Fans can catch all the action live on Sky Sports F1, with the full schedule for the United States Grand Prix weekend available.

As the competition heats up, all eyes will be on Verstappen and Norris as they navigate the challenges of the Austin circuit, with the championship battle intensifying with each passing race.