Verstappen takes pole ahead of Norris at U.S. GP

AUSTIN, Texas -- Max Verstappen stormed to rod presumption for the U.S. Grand Prix up of McLaren's Lando Norris, with title person Oscar Piastri struggling to sixth.

Verstappen's thigh clip of 1:32.510 astatine the opening of Q3 was enough. Red Bull did not nonstop him retired successful clip for a last attempt, but arsenic it turned retired helium did not request one. Norris finished 0.291 seconds down astatine the Circuit of the Americas.

The front-row lockout volition springiness Verstappen, who has go a wild-card outsider successful the rubric combat of late, and Norris a accidental to chopped the spread to Piastri successful the standings Sunday.

"It was good," Verstappen said aft qualifying. "I deliberation successful each conception the car was precise strong. Just trying to enactment the thigh unneurotic astir present sometimes tin beryllium rather tricky. Also, it's precise hot, precise beardown winds arsenic well. And past successful that archetypal sector, having tailwind is challenging.

"The archetypal 1 [lap] successful Q3 was good. Just managed to amended a small spot from Q2. Unfortunately, past I couldn't bash my last run. Was a spot messy with the retired laps, but luckily ... we didn't request it. So, for america again, precise beardown result," helium added.

Meanwhile, Norris said: "Yesterday, I was conscionable rather comfortable. And I don't cognize if it's conscionable everyone other has improved a spot oregon the upwind contiguous wounded america a spot more, but we were some struggling rather a spot much today, conscionable to enactment the laps successful and to beryllium arsenic speedy arsenic this guy.

"So, we were pushing. And I'm truthful blessed with P2, it could person been worse and but determination was nary accidental we could person gone rod today."

Verstappen had already taken 8 points retired of the McLaren brace by winning the sprint race -- Piastri had collided with Norris pursuing contact with Nico Hülkenberg, taking some retired of the race.

Verstappen's triumph successful the shortened lawsuit means helium goes into Sunday's main lawsuit 55 points down Piastri and 33 down Norris.

Verstappen has finished up of some McLaren drivers astatine the past 3 races. He volition look to replicate his commencement successful the sprint, with a cleanable getaway giving him a cleanable tally up the elevation into Turn 1.

Championship person Piastri struggled each time and finished fractional a 2nd disconnected Verstappen's pb time.

The Australian driver, who's signifier has wobbled since the summertime break, volition look a tricky contention connected Sunday to minimise the damage, with Charles Leclerc, George Russell and Lewis Hamilton starting betwixt him and Norris.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli was seventh for Mercedes up of qualifying prima Oliver Bearman, who volition commencement eighth for Haas.

Carlos Sainz, who claimed a fashionable 3rd successful Saturday's sprint race, qualified ninth up of chap Spaniard Fernando Alonso.

The league featured 1 reddish flag, with Isack Hadjar crashing heavy successful the opening moments of Q1 -- the French rookie was unhurt successful the crash, but volition commencement from the backmost of the pack.