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F1 – Red Bull’s Formula One leader Max Verstappen took pole position for today’s sprint race at the US Grand Prix with McLaren’s title rival Lando Norris qualifying fourth.
Mercedes’ George Russell joined triple world champion Verstappen on the front row with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc third.
Verstappen, who last year won both the 19-lap sprint and Sunday grand prix at Austin’s Circuit of the Americas, lapped with a fastest time of one minute 32.833 seconds – 0.012 quicker than Russell.
The Dutch driver leads Norris by 52 points with six rounds remaining.
Norris will be unable to count on support in the sprint from team mate Oscar Piastri after the Australian had his fastest lap deleted and failed to progress beyond the first phase, qualifying only 16th.
Verstappen’s team mate Sergio Perez will also start well down the field in 11th.
Earlier, Carlos Sainz led team mate Leclerc in a Ferrari one-two in the sole practice session with Verstappen and Norris third and fourth.
Sainz lapped with a fastest time of one minute 33.602 seconds with Leclerc, on pole last year, 0.021 seconds slower.
Verstappen, who set his best lap earlier in the session, and Norris were 0.253 and 0.266 off the pace respectively.
Red Bull have made an adjustment to their car after a controversy erupted on Thursday over a ride height device that triggered concern from rivals.
McLaren had to make changes to their rear wing after the previous race in Singapore, with the technical battle heating up as the title chase enters the final quarter of the season.
The two Ferraris were one-two at the half-way point on hard tyres, before Verstappen went faster as one of the first to switch to softs.
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