LIVE: 2025 F1 United States Grand Prix - Qualifying

The McLaren team is under immense pressure to recover from a disastrous start to the United States Grand Prix weekend, following a double DNF in the main race qualifying. Championship leader Oscar Piastri and teammate Lando Norris both suffered early exits, adding significant stakes to Saturday's qualifying session.

Why it matters:

• McLaren's performance in the Sprint race was severely hampered, with a double retirement for its drivers, making Saturday's qualifying crucial for damage limitation and regaining momentum.
• The incident involving Nico Hulkenberg, Oscar Piastri, and Lando Norris has significant implications for the drivers' championship.
• Max Verstappen's win in the Sprint race allowed him to close the gap to Piastri and Norris in the championship standings, intensifying the title fight.

The details:

• Sprint Race Incident: At Turn 1, Nico Hulkenberg made contact with Oscar Piastri, leading to Piastri spinning and collecting his teammate, Lando Norris, resulting in a double DNF for McLaren.
• Championship Impact: Verstappen's eight points from the Sprint win reduced Piastri's lead to 55 points and Norris's to 33 points, making the championship battle tighter than ever.
• Fernando Alonso Eliminated: Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso also faced an early exit in the Sprint, adding to the drama.
• Max Verstappen's Performance: Verstappen continued his strong form, securing the Sprint win, and is now looking to carry that momentum into qualifying.
• Historical Context: Last year, Lando Norris secured pole position at Austin, with Max Verstappen qualifying second and Oscar Piastri in fifth.

What's next:

• All eyes will be on Austin on Saturday afternoon to see if McLaren can regroup and deliver a strong qualifying performance to mitigate the damage from the Sprint.
• The qualifying session will be a critical opportunity for both Piastri and Norris to secure good grid positions and prevent Verstappen from extending his advantage further.
• The live blog will provide real-time updates and timing for the qualifying session, capturing all the action as it unfolds.
• Fans will be eager to see how the championship contenders respond to the pressure and what impact the qualifying results will have on the main race strategy.