Lando Norris edged Max Verstappen in qualifying to claim pole position for the United States Grand Prix at COTA as Mercedes struggled with Hamilton finishing 19th.
This marks a significant milestone for the McLaren driver, who edged out reigning world champion Max Verstappen by a mere 0.031 seconds.
The qualifying session was not only thrilling but also dramatic, as George Russell’s crash at Turn 19 brought an abrupt end to the proceedings, preventing several drivers from improving their times in the final moments.
As the session commenced, anticipation filled the air following a competitive sprint race earlier that day, where Verstappen had showcased his dominance by winning and extending his championship lead over Norris to 54 points.
The qualifying format consisted of three segments: Q1, Q2, and Q3, with the top ten drivers from Q2 advancing to Q3 for a final shootout for pole position.
In Q1, drivers aimed to set competitive lap times to secure their places in the next round. Notably, Lewis Hamilton faced a shocking exit, qualifying in 19th place after struggling significantly with his car’s setup.
Hamilton’s performance was marred by a lack of pace, particularly in the middle sector of his final lap. He expressed disappointment over missing out on Q2 and acknowledged that he would need to work hard during the race to recover lost ground.
The seven-time world champion was eliminated alongside Williams’ pair Alex Albon and Franco Colapinto as well as Sauber duo Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu.
Meanwhile, Lando Norris and his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri demonstrated impressive speed early on. Norris set a strong benchmark with a time of 1:33.616 during his first run.
As the session progressed into Q2, drivers pushed harder to secure their spots in the top ten. Norris continued to excel, posting a time of 1:32.851, while Verstappen also showed strong form with a time of 1:32.584.
Meanwhile the eliminated drivers were: Yuki Tsunoda, Nico Hulkenberg, Esteban Ocon, Lance Stroll and Liam Lawson.
As Q3 began, all eyes were on Norris and Verstappen as they prepared for their final flying laps. Norris set an early pace with an outstanding lap of 1:32.330 during his first run. This lap was later described by the McLaren driver as potentially “the best of my career.”
Verstappen was hot on his heels and looked poised to reclaim pole position after producing a strong first sector in his final attempt.
However, just as both drivers were gearing up for their second runs, disaster struck for Russell. The Mercedes driver lost control of his car at Turn 19 and crashed into the barriers, bringing out double yellow flags and effectively ending the session prematurely.
This incident prevented Verstappen and several other drivers from completing their final laps and improving their times.
In the aftermath of Russell’s crash, Norris’s initial lap time stood unchallenged, securing him pole position. Verstappen expressed frustration over how things unfolded but acknowledged that he had been on track for a potential improvement before the crash disrupted the session.
Carlos Sainz secured third place for Ferrari with a time of 1:32.652, while his teammate Charles Leclerc followed closely behind in fourth with a time of 1:32.740. Piastri rounded out the top five, showcasing McLaren’s resurgence alongside Norris’s standout performance.
Russell ultimately qualified sixth despite his crash, while Pierre Gasly delivered an impressive performance to secure seventh for Alpine. Fernando Alonso and Kevin Magnussen completed the top ten, with Red Bull’s Sergio Perez struggling after having a lap time deleted due to track limits infringement.
