Verstappen leads, Russell and Norris secure top spots for the thrilling US F1 Sprint.
After a solitary practice session, Formula 1 is thrust back into fierce competition at Austin with the United States Grand Prix Sprint Qualifying. This “Sprint Shootout,” as it’s termed by Formula 1, is set to shape the starting grid for Saturday’s Sprint at 8 PM French time.
Ferrari narrowly led the way in Free Practice, with Carlos Sainz edging ahead of Charles Leclerc, Max Verstappen, and the McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. The Mercedes duo of George Russell and Lewis Hamilton were hot on their heels, trailing by less than half a second.
Liam Lawson posted a promising 13th fastest time in Free Practice but will start from the back on Sunday after incurring a hefty grid penalty for multiple technical component changes on his RB F1, previously driven by Daniel Ricciardo.
Another focal point this Grand Prix is Red Bull’s in-cockpit ride height adjustment system. Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren, expressed frustration and demanded clarity, while Christian Horner’s team insists they’ve breached no regulations and that their rivals were aware of the system.
SQ1 – 12 minutes – Medium tyres
SQ1 is a condensed, 12-minute version of Q1, with drivers also needing to finish in the top 15 to progress to SQ2. The only added stipulation, aside from the reduced time, is the mandatory use of medium tyres.
Kevin Magnussen set the initial benchmark with a time of 1’34″403, unbeaten by Yuki Tsunoda, Max Verstappen, or Liam Lawson, but surpassed by Lando Norris with a 1’33″919. Oscar Piastri recorded only the seventh fastest time ahead of the Williams, and Carlos Sainz climbed to second. Charles Leclerc settled the matter with a 1’33″896, just 23 milliseconds quicker than Norris.
Lewis Hamilton delivered the fastest first sector overall and eventually topped the time sheets with a 1’33″840. George Russell could only manage fifth, sandwiched between Sainz and the impressive Magnussen. Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll positioned themselves just behind.
Verstappen immediately followed up with another rapid lap that moved him into third place. Sergio Pérez completed a swift lap on his second attempt, climbing to seventh and temporarily eliminating Franco Colapinto, who had a time identical to Alex Albon’s to the millisecond.
In his final flying lap, the last one spun out just as Colapinto improved and knocked him out! Piastri secured seventh place, and Lawson also advanced to 13th. Alonso was safe, but Piastri’s time was subsequently annulled, relegating him to 16th position!
Those eliminated were Piastri, Ocon, Albon, Bottas, and Zhou.
SQ2 – 10 minutes – Medium tyres
Magnussen recorded the initial time, but it was Russell who bettered it with a 1’33″544 before Hamilton outpaced his teammate with a 1’33″370. However, Sainz topped that with a 1’33″274 and Leclerc slotted into third between the Mercedes, while Norris only managed fifth.
Verstappen clocked in next, snatching second place just 0.016 seconds behind Sainz. Colapinto provisionally placed eighth, flanked by the Haas of Magnussen and Nico Hülkenberg.
Pérez only managed the tenth fastest time ahead of Gasly. Tsunoda provisionally ousted Pérez, who was still on track. Lawson completed his fast lap in 12th, two-tenths off Tsunoda. Alonso recorded the 12th fastest time and Stroll 15th, while Pérez did not improve and was thus out of SQ2!
Alonso’s time was deleted due to an off-track excursion, sending him back to 15th before Lawson suffered the same fate, also demoted to 15th. Gasly is under investigation for impeding Colapinto, although the Frenchman has apologized.
Eliminated were Pérez, Gasly, Stroll, Alonso, and Lawson.
SQ3 – 8 minutes – Soft tyres
Russell set the pace with a 1’32″845, and Hamilton finished over half a second adrift of his teammate, grumbling over the radio about poor timing. Colapinto spun without consequence. Nonetheless, the Argentine made a commendable Sprint Qualifying effort, reaching SQ3.
The FIA has notified that there will be no further investigation into the SQ2 incident between Colapinto and Gasly, who had impeded the Williams driver. Consequently, no penalty will be imposed on the French driver.
Sainz finished with the second fastest time, two tenths off Russell. Norris did better, placing just six thousandths ahead of the Spaniard but still behind Russell. Leclerc went even further, yet two tenths away from Russell.
Magnussen secured the sixth fastest time, only 0.020 seconds behind Hamilton! Verstappen improved to clock a 1’32″833, narrowly beating Russell! Hülkenberg positioned himself sixth ahead of Hamilton, and Tsunoda recorded the ninth fastest time.
| Pos. | Driver | Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Honda RBPT RB20 | 1:33.908 | 1:33.290 | 1:32.833 |
| 02 | George Russell | Mercedes W15 | 1:34.125 | 1:33.544 | 1:32.845 |
| 03 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari SF-24 | 1:33.647 | 1:33.392 | 1:33.059 |
| 04 | Lando Norris | McLaren Mercedes MCL38 | 1:33.919 | 1:33.566 | 1:33.083 |
| 05 | Carlos Sainz | Ferrari SF-24 | 1:34.109 | 1:33.274 | 1:33.089 |
| 06 | Nico Hülkenberg | Haas Ferrari VF-24 | 1:34.825 | 1:33.994 | 1:33.183 |
| 07 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes W15 | 1:33.840 | 1:33.370 | 1:33.378 |
| 08 | Kevin Magnussen | Haas Ferrari VF-24 | 1:34.403 | 1:33.788 | 1:33.398 |
| 09 | Yuki Tsunoda | RB Honda RBPT VCARB 01 | 1:34.646 | 1:34.052 | 1:33.802 |
| 10 | Franco Colapinto | Williams Mercedes FW46 | 1:34.606 | 1:33.952 | 1:34.406 |
| — | —————- | ————— | ———- | ———- | ———- |
| 11 | Sergio Pérez | Red Bull Honda RBPT RB20 | 1:34.333 | 1:34.244 | |
| 12 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine Renault A524 | 1:34.865 | 1:34.363 | |
| 13 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin Mercedes AMR24 | 1:34.324 | – :—.— | |
| 14 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin Mercedes AMR24 | 1:34.436 | – :—.— | |
| 15 | Liam Lawson | RB Honda RBPT VCARB 01 | 1:34.617 | – :—.— | |
| — | —————- | ————— | ———- | ———- | ———- |
| 16 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren Mercedes MCL38 | 1:34.881 | ||
| 17 | Esteban Ocon | Alpine Renault A524 | 1:34.917 | ||
| 18 | Alex Albon | Williams Mercedes FW46 | 1:35.054 | ||
| 19 | Valtteri Bottas | Stake F1 Kick Sauber C44 | 1:35.148 | ||
| 20 | Guanyu Zhou | Stake F1 Kick Sauber C44 | 1:36.472 |
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Verstappen – Russell Top Grid for US F1 Sprint Event Verstappen – Russell Top Grid for US F1 Sprint Event
