Verstappen Leads the Pack, but Ferrari Emerges as Main Threat for

Verstappen Leads the Pack, but Ferrari Emerges as Main Threat for 2024 US GP

Max Verstappen looks poised to claim another victory for Red Bull in the 2024 United States Grand Prix, aiming to break the team’s winless streak dating back to June. After returning to form with a commanding performance in the sprint race, Verstappen is seen as the clear favorite to win at Austin, where he has already secured three consecutive GP victories.

Verstappen was on course for pole position during qualifying, but an unexpected twist occurred when George Russell crashed late in Q3. This incident shook up the order, giving McLaren’s Lando Norris the opportunity to take pole. Norris described his lap as “the best of my career,” managing to capitalize on the critical first Q3 runs before Russell’s accident brought an early end to the session.

While Norris will start on pole, Ferrari is shaping up to be Verstappen’s strongest competitor for Sunday’s race. Despite Red Bull’s strength, Ferrari’s data suggests they could be in a position to challenge for the win. Carlos Sainz, in particular, expressed confidence, noting in the post-qualifying press conference that Ferrari is pleased to be competitive on a “normal” track like the Circuit of the Americas.

This confidence from Ferrari comes as a significant shift, as they have not always been able to compete on such circuits this season. Now, with both their pace and strategy looking strong, they believe they have a real shot at victory, posing a potential threat to Verstappen’s dominance.