F1 telemetry USA GP qualifying: In Austin, it’s all about driver skill
The United States Grand Prix qualifying session delivered one of the most intense and challenging battles of the season for both teams and drivers. While pole position was ultimately a one-man show led by Max Verstappen, three other drivers fought fiercely for the spot next to him, finishing within just 25 thousandths of a second. Beyond the numbers, though, Austin once again proved why it’s one of Formula 1’s most complete and selective tracks — demanding not only from the cars but also from the drivers themselves.
The strong winds in the second half of the session and the high track temperatures exposed just how sensitive this generation of cars is to external conditions, making them more difficult to control. What emerged was pure driving talent — or as Italians like to say, “il manico” — the true skill behind the wheel. The results speak for themselves: four different teams filled the top four spots, occupied by the drivers performing best at the moment — Max Verstappen, Lando Norris, Charles Leclerc, and George Russell. Norris deserves a special mention: since the heartbreak in Zandvoort, the British driver has reached an exceptional level of consistency and performance. Before diving into technical details such as downforce, suspension, and mechanical balance, it’s worth applauding these four drivers for producing one of the most spectacular qualifying laps of the year.
Red Bull: higher, softer, and still dominant
Red Bull’s step forward appears to come primarily from its suspension system. Verstappen had repeatedly complained throughout the weekend — during practice, the Sprint qualifying, and the Sprint itself — about his car’s ride, particularly its behavior over curbs and bumps. The engineers at Milton Keynes seem to have responded by slightly raising and softening the RB21’s setup, finding what looked to be an ideal balance for a single flying lap.
Telemetry data shows something intriguing: Verstappen’s aerodynamic load and top speed were very similar to his main rivals, but his speed variation through corners was much more consistent, reflecting a smoother and more predictable handling, especially during braking and acceleration. With a noticeably improved mechanical balance compared to the Sprint, Red Bull managed to enhance its car’s longitudinal grip without sacrificing lateral performance. Verstappen then extracted the absolute maximum, mastering an extremely tricky track in Q3 to secure another pole position. The only remaining question is how the RB21 will behave over race distance — a factor that could determine whether the Dutchman stands on the top step of the podium once again.
McLaren struggles: Piastri off the pace, Norris delivers a ‘Verstappen-style’ lap
After the chaotic Sprint, McLaren turned out to be the biggest disappointment in qualifying. The MCL39 appeared much stiffer in roll compared to previous rounds — likely to improve performance through the fast “snake” section of Sector 1 — but that setup choice made the car unstable over bumps and kerbs, unpredictable and difficult to manage. Here, Lando Norris deserves major credit. Despite McLaren not looking like the second-fastest team, Norris fought hard to make the difference himself. Data shows he was only fourth through the first two sectors, posting slower times than Verstappen, Leclerc, and Russell. However, in the final third of the lap, through the stadium and final corners, Norris pushed to the absolute limit — throwing the car into every turn with incredible bravery. It was that final-sector attack that earned him a front-row start. Often criticized for missing key moments, Norris this time produced a lap that was pure Verstappen-style brilliance.
For Oscar Piastri, it was a very different story. Despite finishing just two tenths behind his teammate, he could manage only sixth place on the grid, now sitting behind both Ferraris and George Russell’s Mercedes. That puts him in a challenging position in the championship battle. McLaren’s race pace remains an unknown — if the MCL39 performs well over long runs and Piastri survives the chaos of Turn 1, a podium recovery might be possible. But with McLaren’s lower straight-line speed and difficulty overtaking — seen clearly during the Sprint — things could get complicated. Notably, McLaren registered the highest downforce index and the lowest top speed among all teams.
Ferrari’s resurgence and Mercedes’ consistency
After Friday’s poor Sprint qualifying, few would have predicted that Charles Leclerc’s third place would feel like a missed opportunity — yet it did. The Monegasque driver delivered an almost perfect lap but was held up by Verstappen during the warm-up phase in the stadium section. With just six thousandths separating Charles Leclerc from Lando Norris, it’s clear that a front-row start was well within Ferrari’s reach. Credit goes to the Maranello engineers, who made substantial setup changes — especially on the mechanical side — based on data collected during the Sprint. The SF-25 now carries more downforce and operates much better overall. Leclerc himself noted the car’s extreme sensitivity, describing its sudden “mood swings” as an issue Ferrari needs to understand. Team principal Frédéric Vasseur also underlined that the improvement came from maximizing tire performance.
Tire behavior remains the key to Ferrari’s inconsistency. The SF-25’s structural weaknesses are still evident: Charles Leclerc was the slowest through the “snake” section and particularly struggled in Turns 8 and 9 due to understeer. Yet, thanks to strong tire management in the final sector, he nearly grabbed the front row. That bodes well for race pace, as Ferrari’s tire handling over single laps suggests improvement. Still, challenging Red Bull or McLaren outright seems unlikely; a fight with Mercedes — and possibly a podium if Oscar Piastri falters — appears more realistic. Lewis Hamilton also performed solidly, though understeer limited his final time. Since the summer break, the seven-time world champion has shown stronger form, helped by Mercedes’ new suspension, which makes the car easier to handle.
Interestingly, Ferrari’s rise up the order may also have been helped by the wind, which increased significantly in Q3. While several teams — especially McLaren — suffered, the SF-25 remained stable, much like it did in Hungary. This stability points to an efficient high-energy aerodynamic design, suggesting that Ferrari’s remaining weaknesses are primarily mechanical. As for Mercedes, the Brackley squad confirmed its recent progress, with both cars performing well in hot conditions and on soft compounds — traditionally their weakest combination. Andrea Kimi Antonelli also showed strong pace, particularly in the middle sector. The tire compound shift for the race could further boost their long-run performance.
Race pace and strategy will be crucial
Heading into Sunday, race pace remains the great unknown for all teams running new setups. Tire degradation looked severe during the Sprint, which could push teams toward a two-stop strategy. However, the significant jump between the medium and hard compounds might cause major balance issues before and after pit stops. In any case, Austin promises to deliver one of the most exciting and potentially decisive races of the 2025 Formula 1 season — one where tire management, setup balance, and pure driver talent will make all the difference.
