Max Verstappen secured another incredible pole position at the Austin Grand Prix, followed by Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. The two Ferraris struggled, finishing only eighth and tenth. Here’s a summary of the Sprint qualifying session in Texas.
Q1
All twenty drivers hit the track immediately to set their initial timed laps. After the first flying lap, Max Verstappen led the standings, followed by Lewis Hamilton and the two McLarens. Charles Leclerc was further back after having to replace his gearbox following the issue in FP1, which had prevented him from completing the session. Charles Leclerc ended Q1 in a tense thirteenth position.
In the second run, Norris took the lead, ahead of Verstappen, Piastri, and Hamilton. Eliminated after Q1 were Oliver Bearman, Franco Colapinto, Yuki Tsunoda, Esteban Ocon, and Gabriel Bortoleto.
Q2
Q2 began with drivers returning to the track on medium tyres, as mandated by the regulations. In the first run, Norris remained on top, followed by Verstappen, Piastri, George Russell, and Carlos Sainz. Both Ferraris struggled, with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc in ninth and tenth respectively.
During the second attempt, the top positions remained largely unchanged, but Ferrari managed to improve, with both drivers surpassing the Q2 cutoff, albeit with difficulty. Eliminated were Kimi Antonelli, Isack Hadjar, Pierre Gasly, Lance Stroll, and Liam Lawson.
Q3
In Q3, drivers were free to use the softest tyre. Most top drivers attempted a single flying lap, with only Russell, Sainz, and Albon putting in additional laps. At the end of the run, Verstappen claimed pole position, followed by Norris, Piastri, and an impressive Nico Hülkenberg. The Ferraris finished poorly, in eighth and tenth.
Technical insights and performance
Red Bull showed its competitiveness with the RB21, which maximized aerodynamic performance in high-speed corners while resolving bottoming issues seen in FP1. McLaren performed well in Austin, with the MCL39 handling the track’s characteristics effectively. Its consistent aerodynamic load allowed the car to preserve tyres over the lap. However, on a single flying lap, Verstappen’s skill and the Red Bull’s pace edged out the more conservative McLaren drivers.
Ferrari faces a difficult weekend, as expected due to the bumpy asphalt that forces the SF25 to run at higher ride heights, a challenge the team has struggled with since the start of the season.
Special mention goes to Nico Hülkenberg in fourth and the two Williams cars. Although this was only Sprint qualifying, the session already offers interesting insights into a weekend that could hold surprises.
Leave a Reply