Grand Prix

Max Verstappen Three-Peats Qualifying Pole During F1's Austin Sprint

Max Verstappen claims his third consecutive pole over his Championship Rivals of McLaren's Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. What does this mean for the Sprint tomorrow?
Kaitlin Tucci|
Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool

Strong winds and extreme heat can wreak havoc on the cars around the Circuit of the Americas, but yet again Max Verstappen has earned himself the title of "Mr. Consistency," holding it together and putting in a lap that topped the McLarens.

Verstappen knows that every Grand Prix and Sprint Race remaining in the season is a 'must win' situation to remain in contention for his 5th Driver's Championship against his McLaren rivals.

In the second half of the 2025 season, we are seeing what can only be described as a "Red Bull" resurgence led by Verstappen, with pole position after pole position for the Dutch Driver.

Even Verstappen Struggled with Today's Track Conditions

Max Verstappen After Pole in Sprint Qualifying at US GP
Max Verstappen After Pole in Sprint Qualifying at US GP | Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool

Not only is COTA under a 'heat hazard' warning from the FIA, indicating that the drivers are allowed to wear cooling suits during the sessions, but the wind gusts have gotten up to 25 mph (as of the time of publication).

Acknowledging the change in elevations around the track and the build of Formula 1 cars, this is ultimately something that drivers have to consider around the track, especially at full pace during qualifying.

Max confirmed, in fact, that the track conditions were absolutely a factor today.

"As you can feel the wind is coming up and down and very gusty. The track is very bumpy as well, so the cars can easily step out on you in the high speed. In qualifying you have to leave a few margins here and there, but still this has been a very good day"
Max Verstappen, P1, Red Bull Racing

Verstappen added that when qualifying around the Circuit of the Americas, you have to take the track and laps "segment by segment," slowly putting it together by the end of the lap.

Additionally, the drivers faced a new factor on top of the hot track, bumpy surface, and wind — a new soft tire compound. When asked about it, Verstappen emphasized how he put together his pole lap.

"It's been a nice qualifying I think through all the segments we were quite close. It's just about trying to put it all together when it matters, of course, at the end which is not easy because you go to the soft compound with no reference, really."
Max Verstappen, P1, Red Bull Racing

Looking Forward to the F1 Sprint Race at COTA

The top 3 in the championship are starting the Sprint in reverse order with Verstappen on pole. The teams and commentators really emphasize that at the US GP, Turn 1 is measurably unpredictable.

To refresh your memory, Turn 1 is at the top of a hill and a sharp left-hander down that same hill. A turn that has made the Circuit of the America's 'famous' for exciting starts.

Max shared his very simple strategy:

"Just try to have a good start... it's a wide Turn 1 and I hope we'll have good pace in the race but we'll find out tomorrow. Excited for tomorrow and happy with today."
Max Verstappen, P1, Red Bull Racing

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Kaitlin Tucci
KAITLIN TUCCI

Kaitlin Tucci has been a fan of motorsport for close to a decade. Before joining On SI in 2025, she contributed heavily to the marketing and media efforts at FanAmp, a motorsports startup for which she was the Head of Marketing. She has contributed to a number of publications covering series such as Formula 1, IndyCar, IMSA, and more... Kaitlin graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with both a degree in Business/Marketing and Political Science. She works full time as a marketer at high-growth tech startups while spending her weekends immersed in the world of racing. Kaitlin was raised in Las Vegas, Nevada, but has lived in New York City for the past 5 years with her 'giant chihuahua' Willow. You'll often catch Willow watching races alongside Kaitlin, but unfortunately she doesn't have enough airline miles to join her at the track just yet.