Lando Norris beat title rival Max Verstappen to United States Grand Prix pole as George Russell’s crash brought qualifying to a premature end.
McLaren’s Norris produced a superb effort to edge world championship leader Verstappen by 0.031s on their first flying laps in the final part of the session, before both drivers were forced to abort their second runs when Russell crashed at Turn 19.
Verstappen had produced a quick first sector and appeared in with a strong chance of improving the leading time, while Norris seemed unlikely to better his earlier effort after failing to match his previous time for the first part of the lap.
The result boosts Norris’ hopes of making ground on Verstappen in Sunday’s race, after the Red Bull driver had earlier on Saturday extended his lead over the Brit at the top of the standings to 54 points by winning the Sprint.
Ferrari locked out the second row through Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc, with the third-placed Spaniard three tenths of a second off the pole time.
Norris is more likely to receive support from his team-mate than Verstappen on Sunday, with McLaren’s Oscar Piastri taking fifth, while Red Bull’s Sergio Perez could only manage 10th after he had his sole Q3 flying lap deleted for breaching track limits.
Russell claimed sixth as his crash compounded a hugely disappointing session for Mercedes, who earlier saw Lewis Hamilton make a shock Q1 exit as he qualified 19th.
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Lewis Hamilton drops out of Q1 at the United States Grand Prix
Alpine’s Pierre Gasly produced a hugely impressive display to take seventh, ahead of Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso and the Haas of Kevin Magnussen.
Liam Lawson, driving in his first race since replacing Daniel Ricciardo at RB, flashed impressive pace to advance from Q1 but will start from the back of the grid due to penalties for taking new engine parts.
More to follow…
Sky Sports F1’s live United States GP schedule
Sunday October 20
6.30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: United States GP build-up*
8pm: THE UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX*
10pm: Chequered Flag: United States GP reaction
11pm: Ted’s Notebook
*also live on Sky Sports Main Event (Sunday’s race build-up from 7.15pm)
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