Verstappen tops United States Grand Prix Sprint qualifying in Austin
Max Verstappen secured pole position for the Sprint at the United States Grand Prix, edging out Mercedes’ George Russell by just over a hundredth of a second in a tightly contested Sprint Qualifying session in Austin. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc took P3, while McLaren’s Lando Norris, still in the hunt for the drivers’ championship, will start from fourth.
Verstappen’s impressive performance reinforces his strong form heading into the race weekend, positioning him perfectly to maximize points in the 19-lap Sprint. The result also serves as a statement from Verstappen, who hasn’t won a race since the Spanish Grand Prix, as he looks to regain momentum in the final stretch of the season.
While it was a positive session for Verstappen, his Red Bull teammate Sergio Pérez struggled, failing to make it past SQ2 and finishing P11. Pérez’s early exit will complicate his strategy for the Sprint, with limited opportunities to score points from the midfield. Similarly, McLaren’s Oscar Piastri endured a disappointing session, being eliminated in Q1 and starting the Sprint from 16th.
With both Pérez and Piastri facing uphill battles, the door is open for Verstappen and Russell to fight for critical points. Norris, who starts from fourth, will need a strong showing to maintain his title push against Verstappen. The Sprint promises to be an exciting affair, with close competition at the front and plenty of recovery efforts from midfield runners.
