Source – Formula1.com
At the United States Grand Prix, Max Verstappen secured his first pole position in any format since Austria, while Sergio Perez was eliminated in the second half of Sprint Qualifying. It was a two-part session for the Red Bull garage.
Max Verstappen’s performance in Austin during Sprint Qualifying delivered a much-needed boost for the Red Bull driver, as he secured pole position for Saturday’s Sprint race by a razor-thin margin. Lapping the Circuit of The Americas in the upgraded Red Bull RB20, Verstappen managed to top both the SQ1 and SQ2 segments with consistent speed, setting the stage for a thrilling final SQ3 lap. That final effort saw him beat Mercedes’ George Russell by just 0.012 seconds, marking his first pole in any qualifying session since the Austrian Grand Prix back in June.
For Verstappen, this result was not only a return to form but a validation of the work that had gone into refining the RB20. With the gap between him and Russell so tight, it underscored the intensity of the session. “We had a good day,” a visibly pleased Verstappen commented after clinching pole. “Sprint Qualifying is always tricky. You’re switching tyres from medium to soft and you’re never entirely sure how much to push, but I’m really happy with how things went today. The car was feeling good all day, and it’s great to be back on top again. It’s been a while, so I’m very pleased with today.”
Despite this moment of triumph, Verstappen’s focus immediately turned to the bigger picture of the weekend, where championship points will be crucial. Currently leading his nearest rival, McLaren’s Lando Norris, by 52 points in the drivers’ standings, Verstappen made it clear that his eyes are on the main prize. “The key for us this weekend is making sure the car is driveable and good on the tyres in the race. That’s really the main focus. We’ll try to do our best in the Sprint, but the big points come on Sunday, and that’s where we really want to shine.”
While Verstappen savored his hard-fought pole, his teammate Sergio Perez was left grappling with a disappointing evening. Perez’s SQ2 efforts only landed him P11 for the Sprint, falling short of the top eight where the points are handed out. For Perez, the frustration was palpable. “It’s really frustrating,” he said, reflecting on his underwhelming performance. “From SQ1 to SQ2, we didn’t see any improvement. In fact, we seemed to go backward with the tyres, and that just made everything a lot more difficult. But that’s the way it is sometimes.”
Perez’s struggles were compounded by issues with the car’s balance, particularly in the high-speed sections of the circuit. “We’re dealing with some ride issues at high speed, and that’s something we need to address. Our long-run pace looked promising this morning, so we’ve got some work to do before the race. For me, the main focus is on being strong in the race itself, where we can still salvage something from this weekend.”
The stakes for Red Bull are high, not just in the drivers’ title battle between Verstappen and Norris, but also in the constructors’ championship. McLaren currently holds a 41-point lead over Red Bull, but with a total of 34 points available in Austin due to the Sprint format, Red Bull has a real opportunity to close that gap. For the team, maximizing the results in both the Sprint and the Grand Prix will be crucial to keeping their title hopes alive as the season nears its climax.
Verstappen’s pole, however, sends a clear signal to both his rivals and his team that he’s back to his dominant form. With his usual blend of speed and precision, he will be aiming to convert this Sprint pole into maximum points on Saturday, while Perez will be hoping for a stronger showing after a challenging session. As the countdown to the Sprint race begins, the pressure is on for both Red Bull drivers to deliver in Austin, where every point could make the difference in their pursuit of championship glory.
