Max Verstappen clinches pole in US Grand Prix sprint qualification, Norris and Hamilton struggles -Results

Max Verstappen snatched pole position in the Sprint qualifying for the 2024 US Grand Prix, edging out George Russell by a mere 0.012 seconds. It seemed like Russell would secure the pole, but Verstappen's late flying lap put him at the top. Charles Leclerc finished third, just behind the leading duo, with Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz rounding out the top five.

Meanwhile, Nico Hulkenberg impressed by out-qualifying Lewis Hamilton, who ended a frustrating session in seventh place. Hamilton seemed visibly disappointed with his performance as he struggled to match his rivals in a tense qualifying battle.

Rewind to the qualifying session: 

SQ1 – Shocking exit of Oscar Piastri

In a shocking turn of events during SQ1, Oscar Piastri was eliminated after his fastest lap was deleted for exceeding track limits. Piastri finished in 16th, narrowly missing out on progressing to the next session. Joining him in elimination were Esteban Ocon in 17th, Alex Albon in 18th after spinning off during a flying lap, Valtteri Bottas in 19th, and Zhou Guanyu in 20th. Albon's spin cost him valuable time, while Bottas and Zhou struggled to match the pace. This unexpected outcome sets the stage for a thrilling Sprint race.

SQ2 – Sergio Perez fails to improve!

The SQ2 of the 2024 US Grand Prix came with more surprises as Sergio Perez was eliminated, finishing 11th and missing out on SQ3. The Red Bull driver’s struggles continue as he joined a list of notable names knocked out in this session. Rookie Liam Lawson took 12th, followed by Pierre Gasly in 13th for Alpine. Aston Martin had a rough session with Lance Stroll finishing 14th, while Fernando Alonso rounded out the bottom five in 15th. Williams’ rookie Franco Colapinto shocked everyone by qualifying for SQ3. 

SQ3 – Hamilton left frustrated by Mercedes! 

In a dramatic Sprint Qualifying 3, George Russell initially set the pace with a 1m32.845s lap, securing a provisional pole for Mercedes. His teammate Lewis Hamilton, half a second down, expressed frustration with the team's timing over the radio. 

Meanwhile, Williams' Colapinto spun out at Turn 15, ruining his lap. Just as Russell seemed poised for pole, Max Verstappen snatched it at the last moment, beating Russell by a mere 0.012s. Charles Leclerc took third, followed by Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz. 

Sprint Starting grid for US Grand Prix 2024: