Verstappen Leads Qualifying Ahead of United States Grand Prix Sprint
Austin, TX — Max Verstappen continued his dominance in qualifying, securing pole position for the Sprint race at the United States Grand Prix. The Red Bull driver outpaced McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, marking his third consecutive pole since the Italian Grand Prix in Monza.
Verstappen set a time during Sprint qualifying that not only showcased Red Bull’s competitive edge but also highlighted the ongoing resurgence of the team following their recent performances in Baku and Singapore.
“It’s been a nice qualifying. I think throughout all the segments we were quite close,” Verstappen commented post-qualifying. “Just about trying to put it all together when it matters at the end, which is not easy.” He expressed optimism for the Sprint, acknowledging the anticipated challenge from the McLaren duo.
Norris secured second, while Piastri qualified third. Verstappen emphasized the importance of a strong start, particularly at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA), where overtaking opportunities are limited into the first turn. “Just try and have a good start. I hope that we have good pace in the race, but we’ll find out tomorrow,” he stated.
Despite expressing some dissatisfaction with his car’s handling during Friday’s practice, Verstappen was satisfied with the adjustments made leading into qualifying: “We made some little adjustments with the car, and then in qualifying it was a little bit better.”
The competitive performances of McLaren are not lost on Verstappen, who acknowledged their pace, particularly in race conditions. “They’re super fast… It will be tough,” he said, indicating a heightened sense of rivalry heading into the Sprint event.
As the teams prepare, all eyes will be on Verstappen’s ability to fend off his rivals and maintain Red Bull’s form as the season enters its final stretch.
