Max Verstappen delivered another moment of qualifying brilliance at the 2025 United States Grand Prix, claiming pole position after a tense Q3 finale that saw the Dutchman’s first flying lap hold firm against late attacks from his rivals. His time of 1:32.510 proved unbeatable, even as he ran out of time to start a second attempt. It was yet another crucial pole in Verstappen’s campaign for the 2025 F1 World Championship, as the Red Bull driver continues to tighten his grip at the sharp end of the grid.
What To Know?
- Verstappen’s 1:32.510 secures pole after missing final Q3 run.
- Norris second, Leclerc third, separated by just 0.006s.
- Hamilton fifth; Antonelli and Bearman both make top 10.
The session began with Verstappen in imperious form, topping both Q1 and Q2 before setting the benchmark early in Q3. As the final seconds ticked down, the field streamed across the line for one last push, but Verstappen missed the cut by mere seconds, leaving his earlier lap as his only effort. It didn’t matter. His time put him 0.291s ahead of Lando Norris, who came closest to dethroning the Red Bull, while Charles Leclerc missed out on the front row by a razor-thin 0.006s, placing third. George Russell continued Mercedes’ consistent pace to line up fourth, just ahead of Lewis Hamilton, who completed the top five in the second Ferrari.
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Behind the frontrunners, Oscar Piastri endured a more difficult session in sixth, struggling to match his teammate’s pace after McLaren’s double DNF in the Sprint earlier in the day. Rising Mercedes talent Kimi Antonelli impressed once again with a composed P7, narrowly ahead of Haas rookie Ollie Bearman, who thrilled the home crowd with another top-10 appearance. Carlos Sainz put his Williams ninth after missing most of FP1 due to gearbox issues, while Fernando Alonso rounded out the top ten for Aston Martin.
Midfield Drama and Early Exits
The unpredictable nature of qualifying at COTA was on full display behind the leading pack. After shining in Sprint Qualifying on Friday, Nico Hülkenberg couldn’t repeat his heroics, bowing out in P11 for Kick Sauber, just ahead of Liam Lawson, who put in a solid effort for Racing Bulls in P12. Yuki Tsunoda claimed P13 for Red Bull, followed by Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto, who locked out the Alpine row in P14 and P15 respectively.
The opening phase of qualifying was briefly halted when Isack Hadjar brought out red flags after crashing just minutes into Q1, leaving the young Frenchman starting 20th and last. Track limits continued to cause headaches up and down the field, with both Lance Stroll and Alex Albon losing key laps to deletions — Stroll classified 18th but will drop to the back due to a five-place grid penalty, while Albon settled for 19th. Gabriel Bortoleto ended P16 in the other Kick Sauber, and Esteban Ocon followed in P17 after a tough session for Haas.
The Stage Is Set
With Verstappen once again mastering qualifying conditions and Norris leading the charge for McLaren from second, the US Grand Prix is shaping up to be a tactical showdown. Ferrari’s front-row presence through Leclerc and Hamilton could make them a serious threat in race trim, while Mercedes’ consistency keeps Russell and Antonelli in play for strong points. Behind them, the midfield remains a battleground of opportunity, from Sainz’s resurgence with Williams to Bearman’s steady progress in Haas colours.
2025 United States GP Qualifying Results
2025 United States Grand Prix Qualifying, 18 October 2025
| Pos. | No. | Driver | Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing | 1:33.207 | 1:32.701 | 1:32.510 | 14 |
| 2 | 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren | 1:33.843 | 1:32.876 | 1:32.801 | 20 |
| 3 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1:33.525 | 1:32.869 | 1:32.807 | 17 |
| 4 | 63 | George Russell | Mercedes | 1:33.311 | 1:33.058 | 1:32.826 | 19 |
| 5 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 1:33.685 | 1:32.914 | 1:32.912 | 18 |
| 6 | 81 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | 1:33.746 | 1:33.228 | 1:33.084 | 19 |
| 7 | 12 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 1:33.501 | 1:33.044 | 1:33.114 | 18 |
| 8 | 87 | Oliver Bearman | Haas F1 Team | 1:33.921 | 1:33.238 | 1:33.139 | 19 |
| 9 | 55 | Carlos Sainz | Williams | 1:33.739 | 1:33.124 | 1:33.150 | 20 |
| 10 | 14 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | 1:33.741 | 1:33.237 | 1:33.160 | 18 |
| 11 | 27 | Nico Hulkenberg | Kick Sauber | 1:33.551 | 1:33.334 | 14 | |
| 12 | 30 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls | 1:33.549 | 1:33.360 | 14 | |
| 13 | 22 | Yuki Tsunoda | Red Bull Racing | 1:33.935 | 1:33.466 | 13 | |
| 14 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine | 1:33.599 | 1:33.651 | 14 | |
| 15 | 43 | Franco Colapinto | Alpine | 1:34.039 | 1:34.044 | 14 | |
| 16 | 5 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Kick Sauber | 1:34.125 | 8 | ||
| 17 | 31 | Esteban Ocon | Haas F1 Team | 1:34.136 | 8 | ||
| 18 | 18 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin | 1:34.540 | 7 | ||
| 19 | 23 | Alexander Albon | Williams | 1:34.690 | 9 | ||
| NC | 6 | Isack Hadjar | Racing Bulls | DNF | 2 |
2025 United States Grand Prix Starting Grid
The Grand Prix starting grid, with or without penalties, after the 2025 United States Grand Prix Qualifying session.
| Pos. | No. | Driver | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing | 1:32.510 |
| 2 | 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren | 1:32.801 |
| 3 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1:32.807 |
| 4 | 63 | George Russell | Mercedes | 1:32.826 |
| 5 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 1:32.912 |
| 6 | 81 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | 1:33.084 |
| 7 | 12 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 1:33.114 |
| 8 | 87 | Oliver Bearman | Haas F1 Team | 1:33.139 |
| 9 | 55 | Carlos Sainz | Williams | 1:33.150 |
| 10 | 14 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | 1:33.160 |
| 11 | 27 | Nico Hulkenberg | Kick Sauber | 1:33.334 |
| 12 | 30 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls | 1:33.360 |
| 13 | 22 | Yuki Tsunoda | Red Bull Racing | 1:33.466 |
| 14 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine | 1:33.651 |
| 15 | 43 | Franco Colapinto | Alpine | 1:34.044 |
| 16 | 5 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Kick Sauber | 1:34.125 |
| 17 | 31 | Esteban Ocon | Haas F1 Team | 1:34.136 |
| 18 | 23 | Alexander Albon | Williams | 1:34.690 |
| 19 | 18 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin | 1:34.540 |
| 20 | 6 | Isack Hadjar | Racing Bulls |
Race Guide
Season: 2025 F1 World Championship
Race weekend: 17 October 2025 – 19 October 2025
Race date: Sunday, 19 October, 2025
Race start time: 14:00 local time
Circuit: Circuit of the Americas (COTA)
Laps: 56
Circuit length: 5.513km
2024 winner: Charles Leclerc
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