Red Bull’s Max Verstappen made amends for qualifying sixth for the US Grand Prix by taking pole for Saturday’s sprint race in Austin.
Verstappen beat Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, on pole for the grand prix, by 0.055 seconds with Lewis Hamilton third 0.069secs off for Mercedes.
McLaren’s Lando Norris was fourth ahead of team-mate Oscar Piastri.
Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz was sixth, ahead of Red Bull’s Sergio Perez and the second Mercedes of George Russell.
Williams driver Alex Albon, who failed to make it out of the first session on Friday, was a creditable ninth ahead of the Alpine of Pierre Gasly.
Verstappen starts only sixth for Sunday’s grand prix after having his fastest lap deleted for exceeding track limits.
But normal order was resumed in the sprint qualifying with the new world champion fastest in all three sessions.
His performance came despite a spin on his second lap in the second session, when he lost the car after running wide at Turn Nine, apparently without damaging it.
Hamilton was pleased with the performance of the Mercedes, which has the team’s last major upgrade of the season, and he starts third for both races in Austin.
“This is better,” he said to his team over the radio on his slowing down lap. “We’re getting there.”
Source : bbc
