Verstappen encounters a forceful departure by Russell.
In a riveting showdown, the opponents of WM went toe-to-toe, with Lando Norris initiating an exhilarating race from the premier spot. Following a minor hiccup in the preliminary sprint event, Norris clinched pole position for the US Grand Prix within a span of just four hours. The diligent 24-year-old Briton, pitted against reigning Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen, outperformed his adversary by a narrow 0.031-second margin in the competitive qualifying session held in Austin.
Verstappen failed to equal Norris' time due to yellow flags that appeared after George Russell's substantial crash in the Mercedes. "That's unfortunate," lamented Verstappen. "I was unable to complete the lap with the potential to steal the pole position."
Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc took the third and fourth spots, respectively, while Lewis Hamilton, a five-time triumphant contender in Austin and a consistent performer in sprint race qualifying, suffered a significant disadvantage, ending the first session in the 19th position, almost last.
Red Bull: We've Identified and Overcome Challenges
Max Verstappen mastered the pole position in the sprint and emerged victorious approximately three hours before the actual elimination round. "It's reminiscent of old times," said Verstappen, having not secured a victory since June. With a triumph in each of the first four sprint races, each extending beyond 100 kilometers, he accrued the maximum points.
Verstappen stands a chance to reap considerable rewards once again in Austin, embarking from second place. "We have assessed our issues and addressed them effectively," announced Red Bull's motorsport consultant Helmut Marko on the pay-per-view channel Sky. Verstappen holds a 54-point advantage over Norris ahead of the Sunday race.
Drama Likely to Unfold in Turn One
Verstappen led the initial lap, winning from pole once in the past three years (2021), beginning from second position in 2022, and from sixth position the prior year. On this occasion, the Dutchman seeks to avoid relying upon a recovery on the picturesque Texas track, which features a steep incline immediately following the commencement and an abrupt left turn. In the subsequent elimination round of the knockout stage, Verstappen once more set a blazing pace. Nico Hülkenberg, who finished in eighth place in the sprint race, was eventually ousted in 12th position.
In the final qualifying showdown, Norris put pressure on Verstappen by recording the quickest initial lap. Verstappen was trailing by a narrow 0.031-second margin. However, as Verstappen commenced his second attempt, setting the fastest time in the first sector and well on his way to securing a top time and pole, Russell collided with the Mercedes track, provoking yellow flags. Consequently, everyone was forced to decelerate, and Norris' sixth pole position of the season was thereby confirmed.
The Mercedes AMG, unfortunately, faced issues in the sprint event, leading to George Russell's substantial crash. Despite this, the Mercedes AMG team will be eager to perform well in the actual race, hoping to turn their fortunes around.
Meanwhile, Max Verstappen, currently second, is keen to maintain his momentum and extend his lead over Lando Norris, who secured pole position with the Mercedes AMG. With the Mercedes AMG having faced challenges, Verstappen's opportunity to capitalize on their struggle increases.
