Lando Norris stormed to his seventh career Formula 1 pole position at the United States Grand Prix, taking advantage of Max Verstappen’s slight mistake and a late crash from George Russell that sealed the provisional grid.
Verstappen had been the favorite throughout the qualifying session, topping both Q1 and Q2, but a small error at Turn 19 on his first flying lap in Q3 allowed Norris to edge ahead and take the top spot. As the final laps of Q3 were underway, Verstappen was on a flying lap, setting the fastest time in the first sector, only for the session to be interrupted by George Russell’s crash at Turn 9, bringing out the yellow flags and halting all improvements.
Norris’s lap of 1:33.046 was enough to secure pole by a slim 0.031s margin, continuing Verstappen’s pole drought since the Austrian Grand Prix. The Dutchman had to settle for second place despite showing blistering pace throughout the earlier sessions.
Carlos Sainz put in a solid performance to qualify third for Ferrari, with his teammate Charles Leclerc just behind in fourth. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri took fifth, 0.620s off Norris’s pace, while Russell, despite his crash, was classified sixth after an earlier lap.
Pierre Gasly delivered a strong performance for Alpine, securing seventh, with Fernando Alonso placing eighth in his Aston Martin. Kevin Magnussen took ninth for Haas, while Sergio Perez was left frustrated in tenth after his initial lap was deleted for exceeding track limits. Russell’s crash denied Perez the opportunity to complete a second attempt.
Q1: Verstappen Dominates, Hamilton Exits Early
The first session saw Verstappen set the pace early, with a time of 1:33.046, leaving Ferrari’s Leclerc and Sainz trailing. However, the big shock came as Lewis Hamilton struggled with track limits, losing his best lap time and being eliminated in 19th place. Valtteri Bottas and Alex Albon also missed out, as the field narrowed to 15 drivers for Q2.
Q2: Norris Tops the Times, Tsunoda Misses Out
Norris bounced back in Q2, posting the fastest lap ahead of Verstappen and Piastri. Yuki Tsunoda narrowly missed out on a spot in the top ten, with Nico Hulkenberg and Esteban Ocon also failing to make the cut. Liam Lawson, who will start at the back of the grid due to a power unit-related penalty, opted not to set a time.
Q3: Late Drama and Yellow Flags
With the top ten battling it out for pole in Q3, Norris initially set the benchmark with a strong lap, but Verstappen looked set to challenge until his mistake at Turn 19. The session came to a dramatic end when Russell crashed, preventing any further improvements, and securing Norris’s pole position.
As a result, Verstappen will start alongside Norris on the front row, with Sainz and Leclerc making up the second row. McLaren and Ferrari will be hoping to capitalize on their strong qualifying performances in Sunday’s race, while Verstappen will be aiming to overcome his rivals and extend his championship lead.
Starting Grid for the 2024 US Grand Prix (Top 10)
- Lando Norris (McLaren) – 1:33.046
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – +0.031s
- Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) – +0.322s
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – +0.410s
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – +0.620s
- George Russell (Mercedes) – +0.772s
- Pierre Gasly (Alpine) – +0.944s
- Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) – +1.049s
- Kevin Magnussen (Haas) – +1.124s
- Sergio Perez (Red Bull) – No time set
The stage is set for a thrilling US Grand Prix, with the potential for tight battles and strategic moves as teams fight for crucial points in both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships.
