Kimi Antonelli takes his seventh pole position of the season ahead of Max Verstappen, on course to claim his first World Drivers’ Championship with Mercedes.
Q1: Leclerc Continues Practice Form
The Cadillac pair were first out on track for their debut US Grand Prix Qualifying but it was Ferrari who set the initial pace.
Leclerc was fastest in the first runs, 0.155 seconds ahead of his team mate, Hamilton. This was before the Red Bulls split the Scuderia pair, Verstappen ahead of Hadjar.
The McLarens were still struggling for pace in the first runs after some difficult practice sessions in COTA. They managed only P6 and P9, Norris faster than Piastri so far.
In the second runs, both Ferraris, Red Bulls, Mercedes and Lawson stayed in the garage, confident with their lap times.
Track evolution proved crucial as Norris managed to turn a tricky session around and went fastest overall.
Alonso managed to sneak through to Q2 in P16 despite the rear of his Aston Martin being on fire when he left the pit lane.
Eliminated: Esteban Ocon, Lance Stroll, Carlos Sainz, Alex Albon, Sergio Pérez and Valtteri Bottas.
Q2: Too Tight to Call at the Front
Verstappen set the timing sheets alight with a mighty 1:34.471, 4 tenths ahead of the Ferraris and Hadjar on the first runs of Q2.
Norris joined the party, only 0.068 behind Verstappen’s fastest time. Behind them, Mercedes played their hand after a tricky Q1, going P3 and P4.
Bortoleto had his first Q2 lap time deleted after a lock-up at the final corner. He will start at the back of the grid either way since a 60 place grid penalty was announced after engine penalties were applied.
As they did in Q1, both Red Bulls stayed in the garage for the final runs, as did Norris this time.
In the end, Leclerc topped the session, 0.080 ahead of Antonell, despite a hairy moment for the championship leader. Leclerc’s team mate Hamilton only managed P7.
Eliminated: Pierre Gasly, Nico Hulkenberg, Oliver Bearman, Gabriel Bortoleto, Franco Colapinto, Fernando Alonso.
Q3: Championship Leader Take the Reins
Both Racing Bulls got through to Q3, Lindblad carries a 5 place grid penalty for a new ICE for the Grand Prix tomorrow. His team mate, Lawson didn’t set a time in the session, choosing to save his tyres for the race instead.
Antonelli took provisional pole with a 1:34.035, 0.179 seconds ahead of his main threat for pole, Verstappen.
Ferrari’s pace seemingly dropped off, Leclerc P4 and Hamilton only P6. They weren’t helped by the lack of grip left on the circuit as the track temperature dropped, everyone struggling to keep it in the white lines.
A solid banker lap saved Antonelli’s pole position quest after what can only be described as a rally moment through Turn 13. He nearly lost the car and had to abandon the lap due to a big hit of oversteer. In second, Verstappen also struggled after going incredibly wide and losing his lap time.
Behind the front two, Hadjar will start third ahead of Leclerc and Hamilton. Russell has struggled all weekend so far to be on terms with his team mate and championship rival, he starts P6.
McLaren’s tough weekend continued, they will start only P7 and P8, Piastri finding pace ahead of Norris in his final lap.
Image Credit: Formula 1 via X