McLaren’s Lando Norris secured his sixth pole position of 2024 during a disrupted US Grand Prix qualifying session. A late crash by Mercedes’ George Russell prevented many drivers, including second-placed Max Verstappen of Red Bull, from improving their times in the final moments of Q3. Carlos Sainz claimed third for Ferrari.
In the initial runs of the top-10 shootout, Norris set the pace with a standout lap of 1:32.330, which he described as “the best of my career.” Verstappen, after a slight error at Turn 19, was 0.031 seconds behind Norris going into the final attempts. However, just as Verstappen began a promising final lap, Russell’s crash in Turn 19 brought out yellow flags, forcing Verstappen and others to abandon their laps, leaving Norris with pole based on his earlier time.
Reflecting on his performance, Norris said, “It was probably the best lap of my career. It was just a very nice lap. I kind of set the bar too high because on my second lap, I was like, ‘guys, I don’t think I’m going to improve much here’. I got everything out of the car.”
Verstappen, who felt he “had a really good shot,” ended up in second place, followed by Sainz in third, while Charles Leclerc took fourth in the other Ferrari. Norris’ teammate Oscar Piastri qualified fifth, with the unfortunate Russell starting sixth. Pierre Gasly secured seventh for Alpine, ahead of Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso and Haas’ Kevin Magnussen. Sergio Pérez of Red Bull, who had his initial Q3 run invalidated for exceeding track limits, completed the top ten.
In Q2, Yuki Tsunoda was the first to be eliminated, taking P11, alongside Haas’ Nico Hülkenberg, Alpine’s Esteban Ocon, Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll, and Red Bull’s Liam Lawson, who placed 15th.
A major upset in Q1 saw Lewis Hamilton drop to P19 after losing time in the middle sector of his final run, finishing just ahead of Zhou Guanyu of Kick Sauber. The Williams duo of Alex Albon and Franco Colapinto finished 16th and 17th, respectively, ahead of Valtteri Bottas in the other Kick Sauber.
**2024 FIA Formula 1 United States Grand Prix – Qualifying Results**
1. Lando Norris (McLaren/Mercedes) – 1’32.330
2. Max Verstappen (Red Bull/Honda RBPT) – 1’32.361 (+0.031)
3. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) – 1’32.652 (+0.322)
4. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – 1’32.740 (+0.410)
5. Oscar Piastri (McLaren/Mercedes) – 1’32.950 (+0.620)
6. George Russell (Mercedes) – 1’32.974 (+0.644)
7. Pierre Gasly (Alpine/Renault) – 1’33.018 (+0.688)
8. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin/Mercedes) – 1’33.309 (+0.979)
9. Kevin Magnussen (Haas/Ferrari) – 1’33.481 (+1.151)
10. Sergio Pérez (Red Bull/Honda RBPT) – Time deleted in Q3
**Q2 Eliminations:**
11. Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull/Honda RBPT) – 1’33.506
12. Nico Hülkenberg (Haas/Ferrari) – 1’33.544
13. Esteban Ocon (Alpine/Renault) – 1’33.597
14. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin/Mercedes) – 1’33.759
15. Liam Lawson (Red Bull/Honda RBPT) – No Q3 time
**Q1 Eliminations:**
16. Alexander Albon (Williams/Mercedes) – 1’34.051
17. Franco Colapinto (Williams/Mercedes) – 1’34.062
18. Valtteri Bottas (Sauber/Ferrari) – 1’34.152
19. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) – 1’34.154
20. Zhou Guanyu (Sauber/Ferrari) – 1’34.228
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