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Verstappen on pole for United States Grand Prix

NEWS STORY
18/10/2025

Ahead of today's Qualifying session the air temperature is 34 degrees C, while the track temperature is 47 degrees. Humidity is 38%. It remains quite windy.

Though always important qualifying takes on extra significance today in light of the Sprint race earlier which saw both McLarens eliminated on the first lap.

Piastri still enjoys a considerable lead over Verstappen, but neither he, his team or teammate can afford any further mishaps.

Then again, though it was a lights-to-flag win for the Dutchman it wasn't without issues for it was clear he was suffering understeer throughout.

The first lap clash and that later in the race involving Stroll and Ocon left the various crews with plenty of work to do, and it remains to be seen if they completed the task, what with Alonso's Aston Martin also caught up in the first lap melee and requiring a new floor.

With an eye on this morning and yesterday's Sprint Shootout, Piastri will want to improve as will Ferrari, though both drivers benefitted from the McLaren wipe-out.

As ever traffic is going to be an issue, especially in Q1, though lessons also have to be learned in terms of sending drivers out too late, as was the case with Tsunoda and a couple of others yesterday. Track limits are also a major issue, with numerous drivers falling foul of Turn 19.

In the moments before the start of Q1 both McLarens are still being worked on, the rear ends on both cars having been changed.

The lights go green and Ocon leads the way, followed by Gasly, Colapinto, Hadjar and Lawson.

Oh dear, Hadjar is off and in the barrier at Turn 6. As the session is red-flagged he hits his steering wheel in frustration.

There is a lot of damage to the RB as the replay shows he simply lost the rear.

As the drivers head back to the pits, only Verstappen and Antonelli hadn't gone out which is good news for the pair in terms of tyres as a number of drivers were on their first flyers.

The session resumes with 14:51 remaining, Hulkenberg leading the way, followed by Bortoleto, Albon, Sainz and Bearman.

Hulkenberg crosses the line at 34.355, while teammate Bortoleto posts a 34.734.

Bearman splits the pair with a 34.409 but is demoted when Lawson posts a 34.212.

A 33.741 from Alonso, while teammate Stroll goes sixth with a 34.540.

A 33.580 puts Russell second, while Antonelli goes third.

Verstappen goes top with a 33.590 but is quickly demoted by Leclerc (33.525). The Monegasque is on fresh softs, the Dutchman on used.

Hamilton goes third with a 33.685 as Piastri goes fifth on fresh rubber.

Norris runs wide in Turn 10 and aborts his lap. He has enough fuel on board to go for a second flyer without pitting.

He goes quickest in S2, crossing the line at 33.843 to go seventh, but, with 3:40 remaining, is it enough?

Russell goes top with a 33.311 as Tsunoda goes ninth.

Antonelli goes second with a 33.501, despite a somewhat wild ride.

Quickest in S3 Verstappen goes top with a 33.207.

Bearman goes tenth, Hulkenberg fifth and Bortoleto fourteenth.

Stroll goes eleventh, as Sainz goes quickest in S1.

Lawson goes fifth, Gasly seventh and Colapinto fifteenth.

Sainz aborts his lap but he's safe, while teammate, quickest in S1, crosses the line at 33.670 to go eighth.

Stroll's time is delated which means Tsunoda lives to fight another day.

Oh no, Albon has had his time deleted for exceeding track limits at Turn 15.

Quickest is Verstappen, ahead of Russell, Antonelli, Leclerc, Lawson, Hulkenberg, Gasly, Hamilton, Sainz and Alonso.

We lose Bortoleto, Ocon, Stroll, Albon and Hadjar.

Bearman gets Q2 underway, followed by Antonelli, Russell, Lawson and Colapinto.

Norris calls for a change of steering wheel.

Bearman posts a benchmark 33.328 but Antonelli responds with a 33.044.

Russell goes third with a 33.413 but is demoted when Lawson crosses the line at 33.360.

Gasly goes fifth and his teammate sixth, but both are demoted when Sainz goes second (33.124).

Alonso goes third (33.237) and Hulkenberg fifth (33.334).

Quickest in the final two sectors, Norris goes top with a 32.876, however Verstappen responds with a 32.701. Piastri can only manage fifth (33.228), 0.527s off the pace.

Leclerc goes second with a 32.869 while his teammate posts a 32.914 to go fourth.

Gasly has time deleted after running wide in the final corner, while Tsunoda accuses Lawson of deliberately impeding him.

The final assault gets underway, with the Mercedes pair among the first out.

Russell improves from twelfth to sixth with a 33.058.

Verstappen is the only driver who has settled for his time as Piastri leave it very late before emerging.

Antonelli goes quickest in S2, as Tsunoda fails to make the cut. Antonelli goes fifth as Hulkenberg also misses out.

Lawson remains twelfth as Sainz remains seventh and Alonso ninth.

Gasly goes fourteenth but it is not enough.

Verstappen is quickest, ahead of Leclerc, Norris, Hamilton, Antonelli, Russell, Sainz, Piastri, Alonso and Bearman.

We lose Hulkenberg, Lawson, Tsunoda, Gasly and Colapinto.

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READERS COMMENTS

 

1. Posted by Max Noble, 2 hours ago

"@Kenji - Me starting to think that the UK press/people/AI chat bots would rather see Lando just fail and come second to V. Max, rather than Oscar win… Jus’ Sayin’…!
"

Rating: Positive (1)     Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

2. Posted by kenji, 3 hours ago

"@ SC...you may well have a point there but it's hard to know where Piastri's speed has gone, uncharacteristic. The sprint debacle may have unsettled him but he doesn't seem to think so. As he said, no rhythm, and this is a track where rhythm is a vital input for a fast lap especially the first section. Oscar will need all of his skills and then some to get a decent haul of points in the main race! Of course the Union SKY Jacks will continue to pile on him mercilessly at every opportunity like they did earlier on in the day!!! Hopefully he'll be able to ignore them and concentrate on the job ahead. "

Rating: Positive (1)     Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

3. Posted by Schrodinger's cat, 9 hours ago

"Given how slow Piastri was, I wonder if his car hadn't been fixed properly."

Rating: Positive (2)     Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

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