Verstappen Dominates US GP Qualifying, Secures Pole Position
Summary
Max Verstappen has once again asserted his dominance in Formula 1, claiming his seventh pole position of the season at the US Grand Prix in Austin. He outpaced Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc by a significant margin, showcasing Red Bull's formidable pace. The session saw an early red flag due to an incident with Isack Hadjar, but Verstappen remained unchallenged, setting the stage for a strong race from the front of the grid.
Max Verstappen secured his seventh pole position of the season at the Circuit of the Americas for the US Grand Prix, outpacing McLaren's Lando Norris and Ferrari's Charles Leclerc by over three-tenths of a second. This dominant performance sets the stage for Red Bull Racing's championship leader, who will start the race from the front of the grid.
Why it matters:
- Verstappen's commanding pole position underscores his consistent performance and Red Bull's continued dominance in the 2025 season. Starting from the front in Austin is a significant advantage on a track known for its challenging sequences.
- The gap to the nearest competitors, Norris and Leclerc, highlights the challenge other teams face in closing the performance deficit to Red Bull, even as McLaren and Ferrari show strong improvements.
The details:
- Q1 Incident: The session began with a red flag after Racing Bulls' Isack Hadjar crashed in Turn 6, causing an 11-minute delay before qualifying resumed.
- Verstappen's Pace: After the restart, Verstappen quickly established his pace, topping both Q1 and Q2. His fastest Q1 lap was 1:33.207, and he maintained control in Q2, securing P1 without needing a final run.
- Close Competition in Q3: In the final segment, Norris initially set a provisional pole time of 1:32.904. However, Verstappen responded with a blistering 1:32.510, nearly four-tenths clear of Norris, which ultimately secured him pole.
- Despite a
Original Article :https://www.fia.com/news/f1-verstappen-takes-imperious-us-gp-pole-ahead-norris-a...