Lando Norris Grabs United States Grand Prix Pole in Thrilling Qualifying Session
Tony Palmer Formula 1 Correspondent - Sunday 20 October 2024
In a dramatic qualifying session at the United States Grand Prix, Lando Norris secured his second career pole position with a stellar performance that left him just 0.031 seconds ahead of Max Verstappen. Held at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas, the session ended abruptly due to a crash involving George Russell, preventing both Norris and Verstappen from completing their final laps.
For Norris, this was a defining moment in his young career. Despite an early-season struggle, he delivered under pressure, setting a blistering time in Q3 that neither Verstappen nor Ferrari's Carlos Sainz could top. As the session came to a premature end due to Russell's crash at Turn 19, Norris' pole lap stood as the fastest of the day, setting the stage for an exciting race.
Norris’ Career-Defining Lap
Norris’ pole position lap was a statement of intent. Following his impressive win at the Singapore Grand Prix, there has been growing anticipation about whether Norris could mount a challenge in the final races of the season to upset Verstappen’s dominance. His pole in Austin certainly adds fuel to that speculation.
"It was the best lap of probably my career," Norris remarked with a mixture of excitement and relief after the session. "We’ve been struggling all weekend, and we haven’t matched the pace of the Ferraris or Red Bulls. I wasn't going to go much quicker than that—it was essential for us to nail it."
Norris’ performance is even more remarkable considering the balance issues McLaren had been grappling with throughout the weekend. While Verstappen looked comfortable in his Red Bull, and Ferrari showed solid form with both drivers in the top four, Norris and McLaren had to dig deep. Team engineer Will Joseph urged Norris over the radio to "trust the car" before his final attempt in Q3—a piece of advice that paid off in spectacular fashion.
Verstappen: A Missed Opportunity
For Verstappen, who had dominated the earlier Sprint race to extend his championship lead to 54 points, the early conclusion to qualifying was a frustrating end to an otherwise strong day. The Dutchman had posted an impressive lap in Q2, outpacing Norris by two-tenths of a second and looked set to challenge for pole in the final run.
Verstappen was quick through the first sector of his second Q3 lap, but Russell’s crash dashed any hopes of securing pole. Despite this, the Red Bull driver remained optimistic about his prospects for Sunday’s race.
"I was feeling pretty good about my position," Verstappen reflected. "I lost a bit of time at Turn 19 on my first run, but I knew there was more to gain on the second lap. Unfortunately, the session got cut short. That’s qualifying—things like this happen."
Verstappen's disappointment was mitigated by the knowledge that his championship lead remains comfortable, and with the Red Bull showing strong race pace all weekend, he remains the favorite for the win.
Ferrari’s Strong Showing
Ferrari had reasons to be pleased with their qualifying performance, securing the second row with Carlos Sainz in third and Charles Leclerc in fourth. Sainz finished three-tenths of a second behind Norris' pole time, while Leclerc struggled slightly but still managed a competitive lap.
Ferrari’s form at COTA will give them hope of a strong result in the race, as they look to challenge Red Bull’s dominance. Sainz, who has consistently outperformed Leclerc in recent races, is becoming a key figure in Ferrari’s efforts to close the gap on their rivals.
A Mixed Day for Mercedes
For Mercedes, the qualifying session was a rollercoaster. Russell managed to qualify sixth, but his crash not only brought an end to his own session but also prematurely stopped others from improving. The young Briton apologized to the team, expressing disappointment in how his session ended, but he remains in a solid position to fight for a podium on race day.
Russell said, "As I approached the second-to-last corner and made the turn, I was caught off guard when the car suddenly lost control. Perhaps I was pushing too hard. I’m really disappointed, especially considering how competitive we were yesterday."
While Russell's sixth-place finish was respectable, his teammate Lewis Hamilton endured a qualifying session to forget. The seven-time world champion was knocked out in Q1, qualifying 19th after struggling with car balance issues. Hamilton revealed that a suspension problem during the Sprint race had affected his car's setup, leaving him unable to improve his lap times despite switching to fresh tires.
"I might need to start from the pit lane," Hamilton said post-qualifying. "We made changes to the car that didn’t work out, and it’s been a struggle all weekend."
Hamilton, who has enjoyed tremendous success at COTA in the past, will now face an uphill battle to recover in the race, with the possibility of making further adjustments to his car before Sunday.
Midfield Surprises and Setbacks
Alpine’s Pierre Gasly turned heads with a strong performance, securing seventh place in the qualifying session. The French driver has had a mixed season, but his result in Austin gives Alpine a strong chance for points on Sunday.
Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso qualified eighth, continuing his consistent run of top-10 finishes this season. Alonso, who has been Aston Martin's most consistent performer, will be eager to capitalize on any mistakes from those ahead of him on the grid.
Haas driver Kevin Magnussen gave the home crowd something to cheer about by securing ninth place for the American team. Haas has struggled for pace throughout the season, but Magnussen’s qualifying performance suggests they could fight for points in their home race.
Sergio Perez’s qualifying session was a disappointment, as the Red Bull driver could only manage 10th place after his best lap was disqualified for exceeding track limits. Perez will have to fight his way through the field if he wants to salvage a decent result for Red Bull.
Notably, Liam Lawson, making his debut in place of the injured Daniel Ricciardo at Red Bull, advanced from Q1 but will start at the back of the grid due to engine component penalties.
Looking Ahead to Race Day
As the grid is set for Sunday’s United States Grand Prix, fans can look forward to an intense battle between Norris and Verstappen at the front. While Norris will start from pole, Verstappen’s superior race pace could see him take control early on, but with Ferrari and McLaren looking strong, the fight for the podium remains wide open.
In the midfield, Russell, Gasly, and Alonso will all be aiming to challenge for top positions, while Hamilton will be looking for a miracle recovery from the back of the grid.
With just a few races remaining in the season, this weekend’s United States Grand Prix could be a turning point as drivers scramble to close the gap on Verstappen or secure valuable points for their teams.
United States GP Qualifying Results
- Lando Norris (McLaren) – 1:32.330
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – +0.031
- Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) – +0.322
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – +0.410
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – +0.620
- George Russell (Mercedes) – +0.644
- Pierre Gasly (Alpine) – +0.688
- Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) – +0.979
- Kevin Magnussen (Haas) – +1.151
- Sergio Perez (Red Bull) – No time set in Q3
What time does the F1 US Grand Prix Start
With the race set to start at 2 p.m. local time (8 p.m. BST), fans are gearing up for what promises to be a thrilling showdown at COTA. Will Norris convert his pole into a win, or will Verstappen extend his dominance in the championship? One thing is certain—the United States Grand Prix will deliver excitement from start to finish.
