Dull qualification for Piastri, only sixth and forced to make a comeback in the race. Mercedes finishes in fourth place with Russell and seventh with Antonelli
Verstappen scores the hat trick: after testing and the sprint race, the world champion is the fastest in qualifying for the United States GP. McLaren was annihilated, second with Norris but three tenths away, even sixth with Piastri, in difficulty after the bad mistake in the mini race. Third, just six thousandths from the front row, is Charles Leclerc, fast with a Ferrari that has significantly improved compared to the sprint qualifying. Positive session also for Hamilton, fifth behind Russell. Excellent eighth place for Bearman, following Antonelli’s Mercedes. The Spanish duo Sainz-Alonso closes the group of top ten.
VERSTAPPEN MISSION, FERRARI REBORN
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Verstappen is on a global mission: perfect so far in the Austin weekend and now looking for the icing in the race. The world champion is on pole by almost three tenths, a heavy gap over a McLaren that is holding on to Norris’ good lap to take the front row. The second papaya, that of Piastri, is actually sixth: the world championship leader is in difficulty, and after the mess in the sprint race the Australian’s confidence with the Texan track is at its lowest. Finally Ferrari is also smiling, significantly improving the times obtained in the sprint qualifying on Friday, allowing Leclerc to take third position. “A nice surprise, even if I still have to understand why the performance of this car changes so much!”. Hamilton is also confident, fifth after a small mistake in the first attempt of Q3.
Q2: TSUNODA OUT, PLATES SLOW
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Even in the second phase of qualifying the fastest is Max Verstappen. Behind him is Leclerc’s Ferrari, brilliant again and in front of Lando Norris’ McLaren. Lewis Hamilton’s second red was fourth ahead of a good Antonelli, who made up for the bad sprint qualifying by passing the cut. The same is not true for Hulkenberg, out after the excellent fourth time on Friday together with Tsunoda’s Red Bull. Piastri is still anonymous and risks going through to the round, finishing in eighth place.
Q1: HADJAR BEATS, NORRIS THRILLS
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The first twist of qualifying is Isack Hadjar’s bad accident. The French-Algerian, very angry and even punching the steering wheel, lost control of his car, crashing violently into the barriers and putting an early end to his session. At the restart Max Verstappen was the fastest, ahead of the two Mercedes of Russell and Antonelli. Leclerc’s Ferrari follows, fourth and certainly more satisfied with his red car after the sprint qualifying. Difficult start for McLaren: Piastri is eleventh, Norris follows him: thrill for the Englishman, who loses control of his car twice in the first sector, having to repeat the attempted attempt.
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