F1 ‘s Sprint qualifying at the 2024 US GP was an absolute thriller, with Max Verstappen edging out George Russell by the smallest of margins, just 0.012s! The battle for pole position was fierce, and it was all decided in the final moments of the session, leaving fans buzzing about what’s to come in the Sprint race.
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SQ1: Early Exits and Drama
The first session of the f1 sprint qualifying 2024 us gp didn’t disappoint, with plenty of drama unfolding right from the start. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, who has been strong all season, was dealt a harsh blow. His final lap in SQ1 was deleted due to exceeding track limits at Turn 19, dropping him down to P16 and knocking him out. It was a tough break for the Aussie, who’s been impressive this season.
Further down the grid, Williams driver Alex Albon had a spin just as he was about to cross the line. The Thai driver was unable to improve and found himself stuck in P18, much to his frustration. Joining Piastri and Albon in an early exit were Esteban Ocon (P17), Valtteri Bottas (P19), and Zhou Guanyu (P20).
The usual suspects made it through to the next round, with Verstappen, Russell, and the Ferraris of Leclerc and Sainz all looking quick in the first round.
SQ2: Perez Out, Haas Shines
The second round of qualifying saw a surprising early exit for Red Bull’s Sergio Perez, who failed to make it into the top 10. His single flying lap wasn’t enough to progress, and he ended up in P11. Perez will be disappointed, as he’s consistently struggled in Sprint Qualifying sessions this year. He’ll be joined on the sixth row by Alpine’s Pierre Gasly, who also failed to make it past SQ2 and ended up in P12.
However, the real story of SQ2 was Haas. Nico Hulkenberg continued his strong form this season by securing P6, and Kevin Magnussen wasn’t far behind in P8, making it a dream session for the American team at their home Grand Prix. Both drivers will be delighted with their performances and will be looking to capitalise on strong grid positions in the Sprint.
Aston Martin had a day to forget, with Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso finishing P13 and P14, respectively. Despite their efforts, neither driver could find the pace needed to break into SQ3. Liam Lawson, stepping in for the injured Daniel Ricciardo, finished P15, making his return to the grid a tough one.
SQ3: Verstappen Steals It Late
The final round of Sprint Qualifying was a nail-biter. George Russell set the early benchmark with an impressive lap, which had him sitting comfortably in P1 for most of the session. However, in typical Verstappen fashion, the Dutchman left it late, putting in a storming lap right at the end to snatch pole by just 0.012s. “Verstappen has clinched pole position for the Sprint at the United States Grand Prix, the Dutchman having beaten Mercedes’ George Russell in Sprint Qualifying by just 0.012s.” It was an incredibly close finish, but Verstappen’s Red Bull had just enough to take the top spot.
Charles Leclerc secured P3 for Ferrari, just ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris, who managed to split the Ferraris by edging out Carlos Sainz for P4. Norris had been looking strong all weekend, and his performance in SQ3 confirmed his form.
Further down, Lewis Hamilton had a frustrating session. After looking promising in SQ1 and SQ2, a mistake on his final lap in SQ3 saw him finish P7, half a second behind Verstappen. Hulkenberg’s impressive P6 kept him ahead of Hamilton, while Magnussen, Yuki Tsunoda (P9), and Williams rookie Franco Colapinto (P10) rounded out the top 10.
What’s Next?
With Verstappen on pole for the Sprint, all eyes will be on whether Russell can challenge him in the race. The Ferraris and Norris will also be ones to watch, as they look to pounce on any mistakes up front. The 2024 f1 sprint qualifying us gp has set the stage for what’s bound to be an exciting Sprint race.
Make sure to stay tuned for the action – the battle in Austin is just getting started!
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FEATURED IMAGE COURTESY OF RED BULL CONTENT POOL – Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool