2024 US Grand Prix – Qualifying Report (COTA)
Qualifying for the 2024 United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin showcased thrilling battles as drivers fought for grid positions. Following Max Verstappen’s dominant pole and sprint race victory, the field was eager to challenge the Red Bull ace, but he continued his excellent form, securing pole position with a stunning lap of 1:32.584.
Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz gave an impressive performance, finishing second with a gap of 0.252 seconds, proving Ferrari’s pace on this technical and high-speed circuit. McLaren’s Lando Norris took third place, just 0.267 seconds off Verstappen’s time, continuing his recent string of competitive qualifying performances.
Charles Leclerc followed closely, placing fourth in his Ferrari, 0.378 seconds behind the leader, hinting at a potential battle with Red Bull and McLaren on race day. Sergio Perez struggled to match his teammate Verstappen but managed a respectable fifth with a 0.436-second deficit, hoping to fight back in Sunday’s race.
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, fresh off several impressive outings this season, secured sixth place, only 0.473 seconds behind the pole time. Mercedes’ George Russell ended the session in seventh, 0.558 seconds off Verstappen’s mark, while Alpine’s Pierre Gasly qualified eighth, narrowly behind Russell with a 0.578-second gap. Fernando Alonso placed his Aston Martin in ninth, struggling to match the top teams and trailing by 0.845 seconds. Completing the top ten was Haas driver Kevin Magnussen, who delighted the American team’s fans by posting a solid lap just 0.890 seconds away from Verstappen.
Q2 Eliminations
Several notable names were eliminated in Q2. Yuki Tsunoda finished 11th for Red Bull’s junior team, missing out on Q3 by a slim margin of 0.922 seconds. Haas driver Nico Hulkenberg followed in 12th, just 0.960 seconds off the pace. Alpine’s Esteban Ocon took 13th, struggling to find competitive pace, finishing 1.013 seconds down. Lance Stroll, whose struggles have continued throughout the season, placed 14th for Aston Martin, with a 1.175-second gap to the pole time. Liam Lawson failed to set a time in Q2, placing him in 15th.
With Verstappen once again starting from pole, the focus shifts to the battle behind him. Ferrari, McLaren, and Mercedes will aim to disrupt his dominance, promising an exciting race on Sunday.
