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Red Bull’s Max Verstappen secured pole position for the 2025 Formula 1 United States Grand Prix after topping Saturday’s qualifying session at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin.
The Dutch driver clocked a best lap of 1 minute 32.510 seconds, edging McLaren’s Lando Norris by 0.291 seconds and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc by 0.297 seconds. Championship leader Oscar Piastri will start sixth on the grid.
Verstappen led through Q1 and Q2 before sealing the top spot with his early lap in Q3.
Although he was unable to complete a second flying lap before the checkered flag, his earlier time was enough to claim pole.
Behind the top three, Mercedes’ George Russell qualified fourth, followed by Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton in fifth and McLaren’s Piastri in sixth.
Haas driver Ollie Bearman, Williams’ Carlos Sainz, and Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso completed the top ten.
The session was briefly halted early on when Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar crashed, bringing out red flags.
Track limit violations also cost Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll and Williams’ Alex Albon their laps, relegating them to the back of the grid.
With his latest pole, Verstappen surpassed Ayrton Senna’s record for the most poles achieved with a single team, reaching 47 with Red Bull.
The all-time record remains with Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton, who holds 78 poles for one team.
The 56-lap race at the 5.513-kilometer (3.20 miles) Circuit of the Americas will mark the 19th round of the 2025 Formula 1 World Championship.
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