Austin: Red Bull’s Max Verstappen has taken pole position for the United States Grand Prix, finishing ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris, with championship leader Oscar Piastri placed sixth.
After the McLaren duo faced setbacks during the sprint earlier in the day, neither was able to challenge Verstappen’s pace in qualifying, even though the Red Bull driver was unable to complete a final timed lap. Verstappen was sent out too late to begin one last run before the chequered flag but still managed to beat Norris by 0.291 seconds.
The strong showing demonstrated the level of consistency and control that has made Verstappen a leading contender in the championship. Norris managed to edge out Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc by a slim 0.006 seconds to secure second on the grid, while Mercedes’ George Russell and Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton completed the top five positions.
Oscar Piastri, who entered the weekend as the points leader, finished 0.574 seconds off the pace, placing behind both Russell and Hamilton. Piastri currently holds a 55-point lead over Verstappen in the championship standings, with Norris trailing the Australian by 22 points.
Verstappen said that the car has felt strong throughout qualifying, adding that putting a clean lap together in Austin’s tricky conditions is always challenging. Norris said that the car felt more difficult to handle compared with previous sessions but expressed optimism for a competitive race.
The stage is set for an intense battle at the Circuit of the Americas as Verstappen looks to close the championship gap and maintain Red Bull’s strong form heading into the latter part of the season.
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