F1 2024 US Grand Prix Sprint Race starting grid with penalties ap…read more
Max Verstappen secured pole position for the 2024 US Grand Prix Sprint Race with a blistering lap, setting him up for his fourth sprint victory of the season. Verstappen, who overcame early difficulties, posted a time of 1:32.833 at the Circuit of the Americas, ensuring he starts at the front for Saturday’s race.
Close behind Verstappen is Mercedes driver George Russell, who came within a razor-thin margin of 0.012 seconds of taking pole himself. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc will start third, trailing Verstappen by 0.226 seconds, while McLaren’s Lando Norris lines up in fourth. Norris, Verstappen’s main championship rival this season, faces a tough challenge to get past Leclerc and Russell if he hopes to fight for the win.
Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz qualified fifth, just behind his teammate Leclerc. Haas delivered a strong performance, with both of their drivers securing spots in the top 10. Nico Hulkenberg will start in sixth after outpacing seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, who qualified seventh for Mercedes. Hulkenberg’s teammate Kevin Magnussen starts eighth, providing Haas with a strong position in their Constructors’ Championship battle against VCARB.
VCARB’s Yuki Tsunoda continued his consistent form, qualifying ninth. Williams’ rookie Franco Colapinto impressed by qualifying 10th, marking a standout result in his debut season.
Further down the order, Sergio Perez had a disappointing session for Red Bull, exiting early and managing only 11th on the grid. He will start alongside Alpine’s Pierre Gasly in 12th, with Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll in 13th. Fernando Alonso also faced challenges, qualifying 14th for Aston Martin.
Oscar Piastri suffered a major setback for McLaren, with his fastest lap deleted due to exceeding track limits at Turn 19 during SQ1. As a result, Piastri will start 16th, a blow to McLaren’s aspirations for the weekend. Meanwhile, Williams’ Alex Albon, along with Sauber drivers Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu, will start from the back of the grid.
The US Grand Prix Sprint Race is scheduled for 1 p.m. local time on Saturday, October 19, 2024. Start times for global audiences are 8 p.m. CET, 7 p.m. BST, 2 p.m. EDT, and 11 a.m. PDT. The race promises an exciting battle at the front as Verstappen aims to extend his sprint race dominance.
