F1 at The 2024 US GP at Austin’s Circuit of The Americas delivered a thrilling F1 qualifying session. Lando Norris took a stunning pole position, beating Max Verstappen by just 0.031 seconds. George Russell crashed out in the dying moments of Q3, securing Norris’ spot at the top and bringing the session to an unexpected early end. Let’s break down the action from each session: Q1, Q2, and Q3.
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Q1 – Hamilton’s Shock Exit
Qualifying began with a dramatic Q1, where the excitement was palpable, as all drivers scrambled to set their fastest laps. Max Verstappen wasted no time setting the pace with a 1:33.690. However, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc quickly displaced him at the top with a 1:33.421, while Gasly and Hulkenberg slotted into the top five.
Meanwhile, track limits became a common issue, as several drivers, including Yuki Tsunoda and Leclerc, had lap times deleted. Tsunoda’s struggles with track limits kept him at risk of elimination, and time was running out.
The biggest shock of Q1 came when Lewis Hamilton failed to improve his lap time. A mistake in the middle sector left him 16th and unable to recover, ultimately finishing a dismal P19. This marked one of Hamilton’s most surprising exits in recent memory, especially at a track where he’s previously excelled.
Alongside Hamilton, Alex Albon (P16), Franco Colapinto (P17), Valtteri Bottas (P18), and Zhou Guanyu (P20) were knocked out in the first session. It was a tough day for Williams and Kick Sauber, both teams seeing both of their drivers eliminated early.
Q2 – Norris Takes on Verstappen
With Hamilton out, Q2 was all about the battle at the front. Max Verstappen, the early favourite, continued to lead the charge, setting an initial 1:33.052. However, Lando Norris wasn’t backing down, and with a fresh set of soft tyres, he powered his McLaren to a 1:32.851, taking the lead by two-tenths of a second.
Verstappen quickly responded with a blistering 1:32.584, reclaiming P1 from Norris. But the real drama was at the other end of the grid, where drivers fought desperately to stay in contention. Yuki Tsunoda, who had earlier struggled with track limits, was again in the danger zone. Despite a strong effort, he was eliminated in 11th place, missing out on Q3 by a fraction.
Nico Hulkenberg (P12), Esteban Ocon (P13), Lance Stroll (P14), and Liam Lawson (P15) were also knocked out. Notably, Lawson’s session was hampered by engine penalties, meaning he was set to start from the back of the grid anyway.
Q3 – Norris Seals the Deal
With Q3 under way, all eyes were on the front runners. Max Verstappen, fresh off a dominant sprint race victory, seemed poised to take pole. However, it was Lando Norris who pulled out an incredible 1:32.330 on his first flying lap, setting the fastest time of the session.
“It was the best of probably my career, I think… I got everything out of the car.”
Lando Norris later admitted
Verstappen’s attempt to reclaim pole looked promising, but a slow final sector meant he finished just 0.031s behind Norris. The reigning champion settled for second place on the grid.
As the final laps approached, drama struck. George Russell, pushing his Mercedes to the limit, lost control and crashed into the barriers at Turn 19. Thankfully, he was unharmed, but the incident brought out the yellow flags, ensuring that no one could improve their lap times. Norris was confirmed as the pole-sitter for the US GP, with Verstappen in P2 and Carlos Sainz in third.
Behind the top three, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc took P4, followed by Norris’ McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri in P5. Russell’s earlier lap was good enough for P6 despite his crash. Pierre Gasly (P7), Fernando Alonso (P8), Kevin Magnussen (P9), and Sergio Perez (P10) rounded out the top 10. Perez’s time was deleted for exceeding track limits, a frustrating end to his qualifying session.
What’s Next?
With Norris on pole and Verstappen close behind, the 2024 US GP promises to be a tight battle. Norris is confident but realistic,
“Max is Max. I always said that Max is Max and they’re going to be fast… I think it’s going to be a good battle.”
Lando Norris on his chances.
The Ferraris also showed strong race pace, with Sainz and Leclerc in the mix for podium spots. And let’s not forget Russell, who will be eager to bounce back from his crash.
With the race set for 14:00 local time on Sunday, fans can expect an action-packed showdown at the Circuit of The Americas. Don’t miss it!
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