Max Verstappen mocks Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari in sprint qualifying in Austin

Max Verstappen mocks Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari in Austin sprint qualifying

Max Verstappen will start on pole position in the sprint race of the U.S. Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin. Alongside him will start the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc, detached at the end of the sprint qualifiers by 55 thousandths, also very close Lewis Hamilton, who in the Mercedes è just 69 thousandths behind the three-time world champion.

In Q1 Verstappen precedes Leclerc by only 2 thousandths, Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen with the Haas, Valtteri Bottas with the Alfa Romeo-Sauber, Yuki Tsunoda with the AlphaTauri and Logan Sargeant with the Williams are eliminated.

Also in Q2 the world champion è ahead of Leclerc before making a resounding spin, fortunately for him without consequences for his Red Bull, third è Sainz. Out were the returning Daniel Ricciardo with the ’AlphaTauri, a Fernando Alonso also disappointing today with the ’Aston Martin, Esteban Ocon with the ’Alpine, Lance Stroll with the ’other Aston Martin and Guanyu Zhou with the ’Alfa-Sauber.

This time the challenge between Verstappen and Leclerc was won by the Dutchman and Hamilton è third as yesterday. Fourth at 101 thousandths è Lando Norris with the McLaren, fifth his teammate Oscar Piastri, sixth Carlos Sainz with the second Ferrari, seventh Sergio Perez once again detached from Verstappen with the second Red Bull, eighth George Russell with the second Mercedes, ninth Alexander Albon with the Williams and tenth Pterre Gasly with the Alpine.

Russell at the end of qualifying è was penalized three positions on the sprint grid for obstructing Leclerc during qualifying.