Max Verstappen beats Lando Norris to United States Grand Prix pole as Oscar Piastri struggles

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Max Verstappen will start the 2025 United States Grand Prix from pole position after a messy qualifying session for most of the grid.

The top positions appeared to be anyone’s for the taking during the Saturday qualifying, seeing a significant shift from the dominant performances from McLaren and Max Verstappen in the Sprint race qualifying.

Qualifying looked like it could go to any of the top four teams, with Mercedes and Ferrari also finding pace this afternoon.

The surface of the Circuit of the Americas appeared to be rather slippery during qualifying, with several drivers being caught out by the surface change and strong cross-winds.

There had previously been six different pole-sitters in the last six years, before Verstappen placed his car in the top position for tomorrow’s grand prix.

Read more: 2025 F1 United States Grand Prix: how to watch, race and sprint UK timings and COTA weather forecast

Isack Hadjar furious after early Q1 crash causes red flag

Isack Hadjar hit the barriers at Turn 6 just minutes into the first part of qualifying, with his Racing Bulls breaking loose and sliding across the circuit. The incident caused an early red flag, as the young Frenchman sat furious inside the cockpit.

It was a heavy shunt for the rookie, which resulted in the medical car being deployed to collect him.

McLaren struggled in their first flying laps, with Lando Norris sliding off the track before hitting the back straight. Several cars were caught by a strong tailwind at Turn 11, with Yuki Tsunoda also struggling to keep his Red Bull on the track at the same spot.

Norris was able to put together a far cleaner lap after his first attempt, but was only able to reach P7, directly behind his teammate Oscar Piastri.

Lance Stroll and Alex Albon both saw their lap times deleted at the end of the session, pushing Franco Colapinto and Tsunoda out of the elimination zone and through into Q2. The elimination is the Canadian’s 13th Q1 exit of the 2025 season, the most of any driver this year.

Stroll has also been handed a 5-place grid penalty for causing a collision with Esteban Ocon during the earlier Sprint race, meaning he will start the United States Grand Prix from last place.

Both Alpine drivers made it into Q2, the first time the team have not had a double Q1 knockout for four races.

George Russell comes under pressure from possible Q2 exit

Piastri struggled to make an impression in the first half of the second qualifying, placing his McLaren in sixth place, before quickly being knocked further down the timings as Lewis Hamilton crossed the line.

The Ferrari appears to have picked up some pace today after having a difficult Friday practice and sprint qualifying. Both Hamilton and Charles Leclerc have seen better performing times, placing them towards the top of the timing sheets, instead of in the mid pack.

Pierre Gasly came under pressure in the final minutes after having first flying lap time deleted. George Russell also needed to perform in the last moments of Q2 after finding himself in the elimination zone.

The Mercedes driver had to fight his car around the Circuit of the Americas, but was able to almost match his teammate with a better lap time.

Nico Hulkenberg’s qualifying session came to a disappointing end in Q2 after starting the day’s earlier Sprint race from fourth on the grid. The Sauber driver’s lap time was deleted, leaving him in 11th place for the grand prix.

Oscar Piastri unable to reach top three after messy qualifying

Verstappen took provisional pole during the first flying laps of Q3, placing his Red Bull three tenths of a second faster than Norris in P2.

Piastri had another difficult first run, finishing almost a second behind Verstappen, although the Aussie was running used soft tyres, meaning there was potential for a faster second lap.

Leclerc had a spin coming round the final corner, leaving him provisionally at the bottom of the top ten, 4.8 seconds behind Verstappen’s first flying lap.

Despite not making it round for a second flying lap, Verstappen was able to clinch pole position ahead of Norris.

Piastri was only able to manage P6, leaving the championship fight wide open for Verstappen.