It’s been a long time since Red Bull and Max Verstappen were in first place on a Formula 1 grid! We had to go back to the Austrian Grand Prix, on June 30, to see the Dutchman start in the lead. On the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, the reigning world champion did well to get ahead of his competitors.
Four teams in the first four places
Behind Verstappen’s Red Bull, George Russell placed his Mercedes, thanks to a convincing attempt at the start of the last qualifying session. His teammate Lewis Hamilton was not as lucky and will only start seventh in the sprint this Saturday, October 19 (8 p.m.).
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Two drivers particularly disappointed during these sprint qualifications: Oscar Piastri (McLaren), eliminated in SQ1, and Sergio Pérez (Red Bull), only eleventh on the grid after his elimination in SQ2. On the French side, Pierre Gasly (Alpine) ranks twelfth, and Esteban Ocon (Alpine) seventeenth.
The starting grid for the sprint race
Front line
Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull)
George Russell (GBR/Mercedes)
Second line
Charles Leclerc (MON/Ferrari)
Lando Norris (GBR/McLaren-Mercedes)
Third line
Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP/Ferrari)
Nico Hülkenberg (GER/Haas-Ferrari)
Fourth line
Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes)
Kevin Magnussen (DEN/Haas-Ferrari)
Fifth line
Yuki Tsunoda (JPN/Racing Bulls-Red Bull)
Franco Colapinto (ARG/Williams-Mercedes)
Sixth line
Sergio Pérez (MEX/Red Bull)
Pierre Gasly (FRA/Alpine-Renault)
Seventh line
Lance Stroll (CAN/Aston Martin-Mercedes)
Liam Lawson (NZL/Racing Bulls-Red Bull)
Eighth line
Fernando Alonso (ESP/Aston Martin-Mercedes)
Oscar Piastri (AUS/McLaren-Mercedes)
Ninth line
Esteban Ocon (FRA/Alpine-Renault)
Alexander Albon (THA/Williams-Mercedes)
Tenth line
Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Sauber-Ferrari)
Zhou Guanyu (CHN/Sauber-Ferrari)
