Max Verstappen delivered a breathtaking performance to grab pole position for the sprint race at the United States Grand Prix, edging McLaren’s Lando Norris by just 0.071 seconds.
The Red Bull star produced a stunning final lap in Austin, once again proving why he remains a major title threat despite a 63-point gap to the championship leader.
From the start, the qualifying session was tense and unpredictable. Verstappen had appeared comfortable throughout the segments, but it was his final effort that sealed the deal.
Norris had held the top spot until the dying moments, only for the four-time world champion to snatch it away with clinical precision. Oscar Piastri, meanwhile, struggled to match his team-mate’s pace, finishing 0.309 seconds adrift in third.
Behind the front three came a surprise name. Sauber’s Nico Hülkenberg produced the qualifying session of his season, claiming fourth place ahead of George Russell’s Mercedes and Fernando Alonso’s Aston Martin. Williams’ Carlos Sainz followed in seventh, with Lewis Hamilton’s underperforming Ferrari eighth. The final two positions in the top 10 were occupied by Alex Albon and Charles Leclerc.
Hülkenberg stuns in career-best display as McLaren fall short
While Verstappen celebrated his late triumph, Hülkenberg’s remarkable fourth place drew admiration across the paddock. The German, qualifying in the top 10 for the first time this year, said his car had “hit the sweet spot.” His performance marked Sauber’s best grid result of the season and one of the surprise stories of the day.
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Norris, however, was left frustrated. Despite a near-perfect lap, he admitted to “a couple of bits” he could have done better. Piastri, too, wasn’t satisfied, describing his lap as “scruffy” and admitting he was fortunate to be third. Both drivers, though, remain firmly in the hunt with six races left.
Verstappen acknowledged the close fight, saying, “It was a nice qualifying. The wind and bumps made it tricky, but we nailed it.”
Alonso impresses, Ferrari falter in frustrating qualifying
Alonso’s sixth-place finish was another standout, marking Aston Martin’s best grid slot since Hungary. He found an entire second on his final lap, matching the gains made by Verstappen and Hamilton. Despite modest race expectations, the Spaniard called it “one of our best qualifyings of the year.”
Ferrari, on the other hand, endured another miserable session. Hamilton and Leclerc both struggled for grip and pace, finishing nearly a second off Verstappen’s benchmark. Hamilton admitted it was “not the pace we were expecting,” while Leclerc blamed a gearbox issue and poor car balance for his underwhelming showing.
Tags: Max Verstappen, Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri, United States Grand Prix, Red Bull, Austin Sprint, Nico Hülkenberg, Sauber, Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc, Fernando Alonso, Carlos Sainz, Aston Martin.
