F1 United States Grand Prix Qualifying: Verstappen Takes Pole in Austin

Max Verstappen delivered again in Texas. The Dutchman backed up his Sprint win with a blistering performance in F1 United States Grand Prix 2025 qualifying at Circuit of the Americas, taking pole by nearly three tenths ahead of Lando Norris.

The pole gives Verstappen a clean sweep of the Austin weekend so far. Behind him, McLaren recovered from Sprint heartbreak, and Ferrari looked sharp again in the heat. The circuit evolved constantly, grip coming and going, and the final laps turned into another late-session scrap for track position.

Key Points – F1 United States Grand Prix 2025 Qualifying

• Verstappen on pole: Red Bull’s Max Verstappen takes pole in Austin with a 1:32.510, completing the Sprint and Qualifying double.
• Norris alongside: McLaren’s Lando Norris lines up second, three tenths behind.
• Ferrari close: Charles Leclerc qualifies third after a spin on his final lap, with Hamilton fifth.
• Antonelli delivers: Another Q3 for the Mercedes rookie, finishing seventh overall.
• Bearman shines: Haas driver impresses again, P8 at the team’s home race.
• Eliminated: Q1 – Bortoleto, Ocon, Stroll, Albon, Hadjar. Q2 – Hulkenberg, Lawson, Tsunoda, Gasly, Colapinto.

Q1 – Hadjar crash, Albon heartbreak

Qualifying opened with drama before a lap was even on the board.

Ocon led the field out as repairs on his Haas just beat the clock after that earlier hit from Stroll. But within minutes, the red flag flew. Isack Hadjar lost the rear at high speed, spinning into the barriers and ending his session early. He climbed out unhurt, kicking the advertising board in frustration before being taken for checks.

Once the barrier repairs were complete, the clock reset with 14:51 remaining. A mix of tyre strategies appeared across the grid. Ocon ran on six-lap-old softs, Russell and Sainz on scrubbed sets, while others like the Racing Bulls went for fresh rubber.

Alonso was first to strike once the session resumed, his 1:33.741 putting him on top until Verstappen inevitably shaved a tenth and a half off it. Leclerc joined the fight with a 1:33.6, the Ferrari feeling sharp in the heat, while Russell and Antonelli slotted in close behind.

Then came the late surge. The track gripped up and the top order shuffled wildly in the final minute. Verstappen jumped to P1 on a 1:33.207, Norris scrambled up to seventh after a wild moment in Turn 9, and the midfield chaos began.

Albon looked safe after a big final push, but his lap was deleted for track limits. Out in 19th. Stroll also lost a time, Ocon missed the cut, and Franco Colapinto only just survived before being knocked out by Gasly’s late effort.

Eliminated in Q1: Bortoleto, Ocon, Stroll, Albon, Hadjar

Q2 – Verstappen tops the times, Antonelli keeps pace

Q2 reset the order again as track grip built and temperatures climbed.

Bearman led the field out, the Haas on fresh softs and looking sharp early. Behind him, Russell stayed on a used set while Antonelli gambled on a third new set of tyres, and it worked. The rookie punched in a 1:33.044 to briefly lead the session.

Ferrari timed their run to perfection. Sainz went second, Leclerc just behind, both looking much more competitive than in the Sprint. Norris and Piastri joined the fight, but Verstappen stole the show. The Red Bull driver laid down a 1:32.701 to top the times by over a tenth and a half.

Hamilton slotted into fourth, Russell’s final lap put him sixth, and Antonelli stayed firmly in the mix near the top.

Behind them, the midfield scrap was brutal. Tsunoda lost time through the second sector and fell short. Gasly’s lap was deleted after he ran wide at the final corner. Hulkenberg stayed in the elimination zone, while Lawson and Colapinto couldn’t find the final tenths they needed.

Eliminated in Q2: Hulkenberg, Lawson, Tsunoda, Gasly, Colapinto

Q3 – Verstappen seals the double, Norris on the front row

It started with a queue and ended with another Verstappen masterclass.

Bearman led the line out on used tyres, Piastri just behind, while the frontrunners waited for clean air and clear asphalt. Verstappen, Norris, Leclerc, Hamilton, Russell and Antonelli all went for fresh rubber.

The first runs set the tone. Verstappen’s 1:32.510 blew the field apart, four tenths clear of Norris with Russell close behind. Antonelli slotted into fourth, Bearman stunned with a lap good enough for fifth ahead of Sainz and Piastri. Alonso went eighth, Hamilton ninth after a lock-up at Turn 1, and Leclerc spun through a full 360 at the final corner.

Then came the final shootout. Two minutes to go.

Everyone bolted on fresh tyres. Leclerc and Hamilton led the charge while Verstappen left it late, almost too late, being told to get a move on to cross the line in time. He did, but he didn’t need the lap.

Leclerc briefly went second, Hamilton improved to fourth, and Norris could only manage P2. Verstappen’s earlier effort held firm, good enough for pole by nearly three tenths.

He’ll start alongside Norris again, with Leclerc and Russell on the second row. Hamilton and Piastri share the third, Antonelli and Bearman take row four, while Sainz and Alonso complete the top ten.

Top 10: Verstappen, Norris, Leclerc, Russell, Hamilton, Piastri, Antonelli, Bearman, Sainz, Alonso

Standout stories

Verstappen – Dominant across Sprint and Qualifying. The car looked planted and he never needed a second lap to confirm it.
Norris – On the front row again but couldn’t match Verstappen in sector two.
Leclerc – Quick but inconsistent. His spin at the final corner summed up Ferrari’s messy day.
Antonelli – Fast, composed, and still learning. Yet again outpaced Russell in early runs.
Bearman – Another standout session. Haas into Q3 with genuine pace.

Final Classification – 2025 United States Grand Prix Qualifying

Sunday ahead

Verstappen holds all the cards. Two poles, one win already, and a car that still looks effortless through the fast corners. It hasn’t been flawless though. He complained about rear-end stability in the Sprint, but so far the package is holding together.

Norris starts alongside him again but will need strategy or safety cars to have a chance. Leclerc and Russell sit poised behind, while both Ferraris could be a factor in the early laps. McLaren’s focus will be on surviving Lap 1 after their Sprint collision.

Race start: Sunday, 14:00 local time.