Max Verstappen claimed pole position for the US Grand Prix, adding to his earlier sprint race victory. The Dutchman's 1:32.510 lap in Q3 was enough to beat McLaren's Lando Norris, who qualified second, and Ferrari's Charles Leclerc in third.
Verstappen described the session as 'messy' due to a late rush to start his final lap and a tricky tailwind in Sector 1. Norris admitted he struggled more than expected, saying 'it could have been worse' and quipped his strategy for the race was 'don't get hit.'
The qualifying session saw drama as Norris and Oscar Piastri had collided earlier in the sprint race, adding pressure on McLaren. Piastri managed sixth, while Lewis Hamilton, now at Ferrari, qualified fifth. George Russell took fourth for Mercedes.
Notable performances included Andrea Kimi Antonelli seventh for Mercedes and Oliver Bearman eighth for Haas. Lance Stroll faces a five-place grid penalty, dropping him to the back. Yuki Tsunoda was furious with Liam Lawson after a track incident in Q2, but both drivers progressed to Q2.
The grid sets up a tense race with Verstappen aiming to extend his championship lead over Norris. Leclerc expressed surprise at Ferrari's pace, saying the team had learned a lot from a difficult weekend.
