Max Verstappen’s hunt for pole at the 2024 US Grand Prix was derailed by a minor mistake—one that proved costly for the reigning world champion.
As the Formula 1 world champ looked primed to secure his fourth pole of the season, an error during Q3 at Circuit of the Americas dashed those hopes, allowing McLaren’s Lando Norris to seize the top spot. The margin between glory and second place? A mere 0.031 seconds.
It was a day that seemed tailor-made for a Verstappen pole. After all, the Dutchman had dominated Q1 and Q2, his RB20 showing the kind of blistering pace that has defined his success. But in Q3, everything changed. Verstappen misjudged his line in Turn 19, entering too late and pushing his car to the limits, only to lose control, forcing him to downshift. In just that fleeting moment, the opportunity for pole vanished.
“I messed up Turn 19,” Verstappen admitted. “I lost quite a bit of lap time there. That would have been enough for pole, but I went wide and had to downshift.”
It wasn’t just Verstappen’s error that derailed his final lap attempt. A crash by Mercedes’ George Russell at the very same corner threw out yellow flags, sealing Verstappen’s fate. Despite this, the Red Bull ace kept a positive outlook, noting that the overall performance in Austin was a welcome improvement after a few lackluster weekends.
“Qualifying can be unpredictable,” Verstappen said. “But this weekend has been a lot more positive. At least we were in the fight for pole again—it’s been a while.”
While Norris now sits on pole, Verstappen is far from discouraged. The RB20 has proven capable of matching McLaren’s pace, and with Verstappen’s renowned race craft, his sights are set firmly on reclaiming victory in Sunday’s Grand Prix.
For Verstappen, the quest for an eighth win this season isn’t over. As the championship enters its final stretch, he knows that the slightest misstep can make all the difference. Norris might have pole for now, but with six races remaining, Verstappen’s pursuit of another title is far from finished.
