Max Verstappen (Red Bull) will start the sprint race in the United States, the 19th round of the Formula 1 season, after setting the best time in qualifying on Friday.
The championship leader will start in front of the Briton George Russell (Mercedes), 2nd, who was knocked out of first place by the Dutchman by only twelve thousandths.
The Monegasque Charles Leclerc and Verstappen’s main rival in the general, the Briton Lando Norris, will start on the second row of the sprint which will start on Saturday.
The third row went to the Spaniard Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) and the German Nico Hulkenberg, surprising 6th at the wheel of his modest Haas.
Another performance, that of Franco Colapinto who is competing with Williams in only his fourth GP in the elite – and the first sprint weekend of his career: the Argentinian will be 10th at the start of the sprint, ahead of the Japanese from Racing Bulls Yuki Tsunoda and very far ahead of his teammate Alexander Albon, only 18th.
Oscar Piastri will only start 16th. The Australian from McLaren, 4th overall, saw the time of his last fast lap canceled for having exceeded the limits of the track.
The French from Alpine Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon will be 12th and 17th respectively.
Lance Stroll will start from 13th place, having been unable to set a time during Q2.
A little over 100 km long, covered in around thirty minutes, the sprint race offers championship points: from eight points for the first to one point for the 8th. Nothing to worry about Verstappen in absolute terms, he who is currently 52 points ahead of Norris (331 points against 279 points).
The United States GP is the third of six rounds of the year to feature a sprint format, which changes the course of the weekend.
Thus, the drivers only carry out one free practice session on Friday before qualifying which determines the grid for the sprint race run the next day. After this race, the drivers will compete in “classic” qualifying, which will determine the starting grid for Sunday’s GP.
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