Max Verstappen delivered a stunning late lap in sprint qualifying at the United States Grand Prix, securing his third successive pole position for a sprint race and maintaining his championship momentum. Lando Norris looked like the favorite after topping SQ1 and SQ2, setting the pace with a strong 1:32.214 in SQ3. But Verstappen, the last driver on track, beat Norris’ time by just 0.071 seconds, with Oscar Piastri three-tenths adrift in third.
A major surprise came in the form of Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg, who put in an incredible lap to take fourth—his best qualifying performance of the season and a crucial result for the veteran German, who has endured a long wait for another standout moment.
Key lineup from the session:
- Pole: Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
- 2nd: Lando Norris (McLaren)
- 3rd: Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
- 4th: Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber)
- 5th: George Russell (Mercedes)
- 6th: Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
- 7th: Carlos Sainz (Williams)
- 8th: Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
- 10th: Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
The session featured typical COTA drama: tight timing, a frantic rush to line up laps, and several drivers—such as Yuki Tsunoda—missing the cut in SQ1 after getting caught out by pit-lane traffic. SQ2 saw Norris again lead the way, with Verstappen and Piastri consistently at the sharp end.
Verstappen’s pole wasn’t just a show of speed—it was a display of precision under pressure, ousting Norris at the very last moment and keeping the world championship narrative alive in Texas. Meanwhile, Hulkenberg’s performance was a “real shock,” pushing him ahead of bigger names and shaking up the grid ahead of the sprint.
