Confirmed US GP starting grid as Aston Martin driver gets penalty

Max Verstappen will lead the pack from pole position after a dominant Saturday qualifying. The Red Bull Racing driver will be followed by Lando Norris, who managed second place.

The second row sees the Scuderia Ferrari of Charles Leclerc, joined by George Russell, who clinched fourth. Leclerc’s teammate Lewis Hamilton qualified fifth, ahead of championship leader Oscar Piastri, who could only manage sixth.

Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli qualified seventh, ahead of fellow rookie Oliver Bearman, who pushed the updated Haas car to eighth place. Carlos Sainz and Fernando Alonso complete the top ten, with both Spaniards starting alongside each other on the fifth row.

While Alonso had a relatively impressive qualifying session with Aston Martin, his teammate, Lance Stroll, faces a penalty ahead of the race. The Canadian was handed a five-place grid penalty after colliding with Esteban Ocon during the Sprint race at the Circuit of the Americas.

Stroll, who was attempting an overtake in the final stretch of the Sprint race, clattered into the rear of the Haas driver, prompting the safety car. The 26-year-old was subsequently handed a five-place grid penalty and two penalty points on his licence by the stewards for Sunday’s race.

Stroll had qualified 20th after having his lap time deleted during Q1. However, he is set to start 19th following the accident suffered by Isack Hadjar during qualifying.

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