2024 United States Grand Prix qualifying report and highlights: Norris clinches pole position ahead of Verstappen in Austin as Russell dramatically crashes out in final moments

Q3 – Norris seals pole as Russell crashes out in final moments

Attentions then shifted to the top-10 shootout – could Verstappen continue his run of form to take pole? The reigning world champion headed out on fresh soft tyres as Q3 got under way and everybody began to put their first laps on the board.

It was advantage Norris as those initial efforts came in, the McLaren driver going fastest on a 1m 32.330s. And while Verstappen looked to be on a promising time, the Red Bull man’s final sector was not so good, meaning that he crossed the line 0.031s off Norris’s provisional pole lap.

Sainz put himself into third, ahead of Leclerc and Piastri. Elsewhere there was trouble for Perez, with the Mexican having his time deleted due to exceeding track limits, putting him down in 10th.

While most of the field had returned to the pits before their final runs, Alonso opted to have the track to himself where he completed a lap that put him eighth on the board. Drama then ensued in the pit lane as Alpine released Gasly into the path of Verstappen, an incident noted by Race Control.

But there were further dramatic scenes as most of the pack were setting their final laps. Norris failed to better his previous effort, while Verstappen looked to be on a solid run – but Russell had crashed out after losing the rear of his W15 through Turn 19, his car spinning off into the barriers.

While the Briton was fortunately okay, the incident brought out the double waved yellow flags, meaning that nobody on a lap was able to improve. This included Verstappen, meaning that Norris was safe in pole position while the Dutchman had to settle for P2.

Sainz put his Ferrari in third, ahead of team mate Leclerc in fourth and Piastri in fifth, while Russell’s earlier effort kept him in sixth. Gasly, Alonso and Magnussen followed in seventh, eighth and ninth, with Perez down in 10th following the deletion of his sole timed lap.