Verstappen went round after hitting the kerbs within the second section of the weekend’s shorter qualifying session, the place the drivers had been obliged to run mediums in Q1 and Q2 after which softs in Q3, however nonetheless progressed because the quickest at that stage having additionally edged Leclerc to prime Q1.
In that session, the vast majority of drivers solely having one new set of softs meant they sat within the garages for a very long time till Verstappen headed out and blitzed his solution to a 1m34.538s.
Though observe limits had been once more a giant speaking level – with the FIA having widened the white line limits exiting Turns 9, 12 and 19 to assist the drivers following discussions with the groups – Verstappen had no repeat of the error that value him pole for the GP on Friday night.
Leclerc was once more his important rival – setting the quickest time within the center sector on his sole Q3 run and so closing in on the 0.1s hole he needed to Verstappen after sector one earlier than then falling again once more within the Austin lap’s closing third to wind up simply 0.055 adrift.
Hamilton slotted into third with an effort set after many of the different frontrunners – ending up fractionally behind Leclerc and 0.069s adrift of Verstappen.
Lando Norris led his McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri in fourth and fifth, with Carlos Sainz sixth within the different Ferrari.
Picture by: Steve Etherington / Motorsport Images
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes F1 W14
Sergio Perez had one other disappointing qualifying for Purple Bull – ending seventh and an enormous 0.5s down on team-mate Verstappen, however having to run in Q3 with out a new set of softs as he had used all of his in Friday’s motion.
The identical was true of George Russell, who subsequently took eighth within the second Mercedes, and Alpine’s Pierre Gasly who took tenth within the closing order behind Williams driver Alex Albon.
In altering however much less blustery wind situations than on Friday, Albon was capable of rise from a Q1 exit in GP qualifying to succeed in Q3 for the dash occasion.
In Q2, the place seven drivers solely accomplished one run missing medium tyres to make use of, Ricciardo simply missed out on progressing behind Albon, together with Fernando Alonso, Esteban Ocon, Lance Stroll and Zhou Guanyu.
Zhou was one of many few midfield runners to finish a number of runs within the center section, however his private greatest on the finish was not sufficient to succeed in Q3, whereas Stroll was left to rue a late large double lock-up aboard his Aston Martin at Flip 12 on the finish of the observe’s important straight.
In Q1, Ricciardo’s last-gasp enchancment knocked out Nico Hulkenberg, who was eradicated alongside his team-mate Kevin Magnussen, Valtteri Bottas, Yuki Tsunoda and Logan Sargeant.
Picture by: Glenn Dunbar / Motorsport Images
Pierre Gasly, Alpine A523
Russell faces a post-session investigation for showing to impede Leclerc going by means of the penultimate corners late in Q1, with the Ferrari driver quipping, “And penalty for Mr Russell – thanks”, following the incident.
In the same incident in Q1, Tsunoda was assessed for showing to impede Hamilton on the identical level, with the Mercedes driver feeling the pair had frivolously touched right-front nook to left-rear, however race management determined the conflict was undeserving of additional investigation.
Russell may also be amongst these investigated for apparently failing to observe the race director’s directions relating to driving too slowly on out and in laps – supposed to cut back site visitors points this 12 months – alongside Albon, Hulkenberg, Magnussen, Gasly, Piastri, Bottas, Tsunoda and Perez.
Albon, Piastri and Russell had been pinged once more for this in Q2, this time together with Stroll, Zhou, Ricciardo and Norris.
F1 United States Grand Prix – Dash qualifying outcomes