Breaking;Max Verstappen Secures Pole Position for …read more
Max Verstappen will lead the starting grid for the 2024 US Grand Prix Sprint Race, having secured pole position after a stellar qualifying performance at the
Circuit of the Americas on Friday. The Red Bull driver posted a fast lap of 1:32.833, placing him in an ideal spot to aim for his fourth sprint race win this season, further solidifying his championship lead.
Lando Norris, Verstappen’s closest competitor for the title, struggled to keep pace in his McLaren, qualifying fourth. Norris now faces the challenge of overtaking Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who qualified third, and Mercedes’ George Russell, who secured second with an impressive lap just 0.012 seconds behind Verstappen.
Russell’s strong qualifying lap placed him on the front row, while Leclerc was 0.226 seconds off Verstappen’s time, settling for third. Norris, only 0.250 seconds behind Verstappen, will need to make quick moves in the sprint if he hopes to contest for victory.
Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz finished fifth, just 0.256 seconds behind Verstappen. Haas’ Nico Hulkenberg had an outstanding performance, securing sixth, while his teammate Kevin Magnussen qualified eighth. Magnussen split the Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton, who placed seventh, and Yuki Tsunoda from VCARB, who finished ninth.
The Haas team’s strong showing is crucial as they battle VCARB for points in the constructors’ championship. Tsunoda’s ninth-place start, just behind Magnussen, sets up a vital fight between the two teams.
Rookie Franco Colapinto impressed by securing a tenth-place start for Williams, although he was over a second and a half slower than Verstappen. Red Bull’s Sergio Perez endured a tough qualifying, ending in 11th after being eliminated in SQ2. He will aim to climb the order during the sprint race to secure a better spot for the main event.
Oscar Piastri faced difficulties for McLaren after having his lap deleted for exceeding track limits in SQ1. This leaves him starting 16th, a blow to McLaren’s hopes. Perez also faces a challenge from 11th after a similarly disappointing session.
Other notable qualifiers include Alpine’s Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon, who will start 12th and 17th, and Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso, starting 13th and 14th. VCARB’s Liam Lawson will line up 15th, while Alex Albon, Valtteri Bottas, and Zhou Guanyu fill out the back of the grid.
The sprint race is set to begin at 1pm local time in Austin on Saturday, October 19. Fans can tune in at 8pm CET, 7pm BST, 2pm ET, or 11am PT.
