Verstappen takes Austin pole as Leclerc fumes and McLaren implode in sprint crash

THE 2025 United States Grand Prix grid has been set after a tense qualifying session at the Circuit of the Americas — one that delivered pole position for Max Verstappen, frustration for Ferrari, and fallout for McLaren following a dramatic sprint race crash.

The race starts at 9pm South African time on Sunday, October 19.

Verstappen holds firm for pole

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen will start Sunday’s race from pole after his first flying lap in Q3 proved quick enough to top the timesheets. His 1:32.510 lap stood uncontested after he missed the chance to complete a final push lap due to traffic.

“Yeah, there were just some people in front that were just leaving like 10 seconds, easily. So, yeah, then you just run out of time,” Verstappen explained. “Then I had two cars in front of me. They were racing as well. I think they set purple sectors on the out lap. That’s not ideal. So, yeah, we just ran out of time.”

Even without a closing attempt, Verstappen ended qualifying comfortably ahead of Lando Norris, who lines up second. The Dutchman said stronger winds and a less-grippy track made the early stages difficult, but he felt Red Bull still had pace in hand. “Maybe slightly worse, actually, I think for a lot of people,” he said, describing the Q3 surface.

Leclerc fumes after traffic dispute

Ferrari’s Leclerc, who will start third, accused Verstappen of hypocrisy after believing the Red Bull driver had hindered his final lap. His frustration came over the team radio in the closing seconds of qualifying.

“What Max did is ... He cannot complain in Singapore when he does the same elsewhere, so ... anyway,” Leclerc said, later venting, “F*** sake. It’s a shame for the traffic.”

Race engineer Bryan Bozzi attempted to settle him down with, “DRS, DRS Charles, DRS,” to which Leclerc shot back, “Yes, yes, yes, yes! Don’t tell me things 10 times, I’m on the DRS.”

The Ferrari driver had already spun at the final corner earlier in the session, making his abandoned lap all the more costly.

Hamilton chases first Ferrari podium

Meanwhile, Leclerc’s teammate Lewis Hamilton will start fifth and remains hopeful of securing his first podium for Ferrari. His rookie season with the team has so far yielded no top-three finishes, but he believes Austin could be different.

“It is. I’ve got to get past George [Russell]. That’s key,” Hamilton said when asked about his podium chances.

He noted that Mercedes and Red Bull had both brought upgrades, while Ferrari had not. Despite that, he was upbeat about the progress made through Saturday’s running. “I definitely learned. I definitely know a bit more about where to put the car,” he added after the sprint race, which was interrupted twice by safety cars.

Hamilton said understeer had plagued his qualifying run. “Qualifying, I wasn’t as strong as I’ve been all weekend. I just had massive understeer, just having to add too much lock, and it killed the tyres.”

McLaren’s sprint crash adds to tension

Meanwhile, McLaren’s strong championship position was shaken by a first-lap crash in the sprint race involving both of its drivers — Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris — along with Nico Hülkenberg and Fernando Alonso, causing all four to retire.

The collision unfolded at Turn 1, a steep uphill left-hander that often compresses the field. Norris went for the inside line while Piastri tried to switch back, making contact that ricocheted between the two McLarens. The FIA ruled it a “racing incident,” but it was their second team collision in as many rounds.

The result cut McLaren’s advantage in the standings and allowed Verstappen to trim his points deficit to 55.

McLaren plays down talk of driver hierarchy

Following the sprint setback, McLaren team principal Andrea Stella dismissed the idea that the team might begin favouring one driver.

“We review our approach constantly, but we are a long way from being in a condition to say that we are going to prioritise one driver over the other, especially as long as the chances are realistic for both drivers,” Stella said.

He acknowledged Verstappen’s ongoing title threat but reaffirmed that both Norris and Piastri will be given equal opportunity. Stella said the team’s target remains simple — ensuring “the world champion will be a driver in a papaya car.”