Sports · Motorsport · 1 hr ago
Verstappen takes second in US GP qualifying after grip loss
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen qualified second for the United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of The Americas in Austin.
He had felt strong in earlier sessions, but lost grip in the final qualifying session, Q3, and could not challenge for pole.
Verstappen said his car had felt good in Q2, where he set his fastest lap on used tyres, but the new tyres did not perform as he expected in Q3.
He could not identify a clear cause, though he said changing wind and track bumps affected the session.
Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli took pole by 0.179 seconds, with Verstappen ahead of Red Bull teammate Isack Hadjar.
Verstappen said second place was a good result despite his frustration, and he still hopes to fight for victory on Sunday.
Max Verstappen said a loss of grip in Q3 cost him the chance to take pole position for the United States Grand Prix.
He qualified second, 0.179 seconds behind Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli.
Verstappen said his Red Bull had felt good in Q1 and Q2 but lacked grip and balance on both sets of tyres in Q3.
He could not explain why the car felt worse on new tyres, though he said wind affected his second run.
Verstappen said the result was good but that he had hoped for more.
- Who
- Max Verstappen, the Red Bull driver, and Kimi Antonelli, the Mercedes driver who took pole.
- What
- Verstappen qualified second after saying a loss of grip in Q3 cost him pole position.
- When
- During qualifying on Saturday, October 24, 2026.
- Where
- Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas.
- Why
- Verstappen said he lacked grip and balance in Q3, which cost him time. He could not explain why the car felt worse than it had in Q2.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Verstappen said the car felt good, and he set his fastest Q2 lap on used tyres.
Verstappen said the car lacked grip and balance, while Antonelli set the quickest time.
Antonelli took pole and Verstappen qualified second, 0.179 seconds behind.
- Verstappen's qualifying position
- P2
- Pole-sitter
- Kimi Antonelli
- Gap to pole
- 0.179 seconds
- Circuit
- Circuit of The Americas, Austin
- Q2 tyre
- Used set
3 sources
What people are saying
Q3 was not good,
I just didn’t really have the grip that I wanted.
There were no mistakes, but just no grip, and started to slide a lot.
it just didn’t come alive.