Charles Leclerc lamented Ferrari’s performance after a painful 10th in Austin sprint qualifying, saying the team is “so far behind now” and not expecting a miracle turnaround.
Max Verstappen claimed pole for the US sprint with a last-minute flyer, beating McLaren’s Norris and Piastri, while Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg delivered a stunning P4 shock in Austin.
George Russell ruled out a sprint pole at Austin, citing track conditions and timing, but expects Mercedes’ race pace will let him fight for P4 after Hulkenberg’s surprise Q3 lap.
Nico Hulkenberg hasn’t scored points since Silverstone. Sauber team principal Jonathan Wheatley says the slump is temporary and reflects the competitive midfield battle.
