Max Verstappen will start the U.S. Grand Prix sprint race from pole after a late stunner pinched top spot from George Russell after the flag.
Verstappen complained throughout the session that he was struggling with ride quality and was clearly avoiding running too wide over the curbs in the build-up to the SQ3, but his final flying lap showed no such impediment, setting the benchmark at 1m 32.833s to beat Russell by just 0.012s.
It’s the first time Verstappen has set the fastest time in a qualifying session since the Belgian Grand Prix in July, and Saturday will be the first time he will start from pole since Austria in June.
“We had a good day,” he said. “Of course sprint quali is always very difficult. You never really know how much you can push, but I’m happy with today.
“I think the whole day the car was working quite well. I’m very happy to be first. It’s been a while!”
Russell’s time was arguably compromised by Mercedes sending out both its drivers unusually early in the eight-minute session, costing him a chance to capitalize on the track’s fastest conditions.
Charles Leclerc was third, qualifying 0.226s off the pace in a car that exhibited none of the vices that slowed it through the middle of the season, suggesting its recent round of upgrades prior to Austin are working.
Title challenger Lando Norris was a disappointing fourth and 0.25s slower than championship leader Verstappen. The Briton needs a perfect end to the season and at least one mistake from the Dutchman to beat him to top spot by Abu Dhabi.
Carlos Sainz will line up fifth for the fourth time in a row for a sprint race this season after lapping 0.006s slower than Norris.
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Nico Hulkenberg excelled to lead a double Haas SQ3 appearance at the American team’s home race, qualifying sixth ahead of teammate Kevin Magnussen in eighth. They sandwiched a disappointed Lewis Hamilton, who was fastest in the first sector but couldn’t complete the lap competitively after losing time drifting wide of the apex at Turn 12.
Yuki Tsunoda will line up ninth ahead of Williams rookie Franco Colapinto, whose session was compromised by a spin at Turn 12.
Sergio Perez was knocked out of qualifying in 11th, the Mexican a disappointing 0.954s slower than his SQ3-bound teammate. He was lucky not to be demoted a further place by Liam Lawson, who was just 0.04s slower in 12th but lost time bobbling over the curbs exiting the first turn on his fastest lap.
Pierre Gasly led the way for Alpine in 13th ahead of Aston Martin teammates Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso after both had lap times deleted for exceeding track limits.
Oscar Piastri was knocked out in 16th after also having his fastest time deleted for running wide off the road at Turn 19. Had it stood, the lap would have seen him through to SQ2 in seventh.
It was the first time the Australian qualified outside the top 10 for either a sprint or grand prix since last year’s Las Vegas Grand Prix.
Esteban Ocon will start 17th ahead of Alex Albon, who spun at the final corner on his final flying lap.
Sauber teammates Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu qualified at the back of the grid.
