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Verstappen Eager to Evaluate New Adjustments
On Thursday, Max Verstappen expressed his anticipation regarding the modifications that Red Bull has implemented on his RB20. After the sprint qualifying session, it appears these changes have indeed enhanced the potential of his car. The reigning world champion showcased his brilliance in Austin once again, managing to edge out competitors George Russell and Charles Leclerc.
Thrilling Start to the Fourth Sprint Race Qualification
As the clock struck 4:30 PM local time, Verstappen was the first to exit the pit lane for the qualification of the fourth sprint race of the 2024 season. This season, he has built a reputation for excellence in this format, having clinched victory in the previous three sprint races held in China, Miami, and Austria. With medium tires mandated for all vehicles, his initial lap time did not look promising; Lewis Hamilton had already clocked in nearly a second faster during the opening rounds. However, Verstappen adjusted quickly in his next attempt, moving up to P3, just behind Charles Leclerc and Hamilton. Meanwhile, Oscar Piastri faced a disastrous start to the American GP, as his second lap time, which would have advanced him to the next phase, was disqualified due to exceeding track limits—a bitter end, much like for Alex Albon, Esteban Ocon, Valtteri Bottas, and Guanyu Zhou.
Strategic Moves in Qualification
In a tactical shift, both Ferrari and Mercedes teams opted to exit the pit lane early for their second qualifying session. Carlos Sainz, who was the fastest in the sole practice session earlier in the day, set the quickest time on the board—but Verstappen was right on his tail, .comy 0.016 seconds behind. The top six drivers were all within three-tenths of each other, signifying incredibly tight competition. Unfortunately for Sergio Pérez, he did not make it into that elite group, as Yuki Tsunoda—who might be his successor at Red Bull next year—eliminated him. Liam Lawson also couldn’t survive the second round of eliminations. Pierre Gasly, Lance Stroll, and Fernando Alonso found their own attempts to progress thwarted, while Franco Colapinto made his mark once again by advancing to the finals as the eighth qualifier representing Williams.
Hamilton’s Mishap and Russell’s Strong Performance
Lewis Hamilton questioned through the team radio why Mercedes had sent both him and George Russell out so early in the session. A small mistake cost him a competitive time, although his teammate managed to secure a strong lap. Russell seemed well on his way to claiming the pole position for the sprint, with Leclerc, Sainz, and Norris struggling to match his pace. Yet, Verstappen would not be hindered. With a razor-thin margin of just 0.012 seconds, he kicked off the American GP in style, providing a significant boost for himself and Red Bull amidst various discussions about the RB20. Leclerc rounded out the top three positions, while Nico Hülkenberg (6th) and Kevin Magnussen (8th) performed admirably in front of the home crowd.
Sprint Race Starting Grid: Verstappen, Russell, Leclerc, Norris, Sainz, Hülkenberg, Hamilton, Magnussen, Tsunoda, Colapinto.
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