F1 News Today: Verstappen Faces Red Bull Scare as FIA Summons Follows US Grand Prix Qualifying Drama… Read more
F1 News Today: Verstappen Faces Red Bull Scare as FIA Summons Follows US Grand Prix Qualifying Drama
Author: Hugo Harvey
Max Verstappen once again proved his class at the Circuit of the Americas, storming to pole position for the 2025 United States Grand Prix. However, the Dutchman’s dominant display came with a late scare, as Red Bull’s timing misjudgment nearly cost him the top spot — and to make matters worse, he was later called to the FIA stewards for a post-session summons.
The reigning world champion delivered another textbook performance throughout Saturday’s qualifying session, topping all three segments — Q1, Q2, and Q3 — to secure his latest pole. Verstappen’s best lap time of 1:32.510 was enough to edge McLaren’s Lando Norris by 0.291 seconds, with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc just a further 0.006 seconds behind. Yet, despite his dominance, Verstappen’s final moments in Q3 were far from straightforward.
In the closing stages, Red Bull made a questionable strategic decision by delaying Verstappen’s final run. With the clock ticking down, the Dutchman only narrowly crossed the line in time to start what could have been his last flying lap — a risk that momentarily left the Red Bull garage on edge. Luckily, his first Q3 effort remained unbeaten, securing him pole position, though the small misstep was a reminder that even F1’s top team isn’t immune to human error.
Verstappen’s commanding pace contrasted with a more difficult session for his main championship rivals. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, who had earlier clashed in a dramatic sprint race crash, looked unsettled at the start of qualifying. The pair appeared tentative in Q1, hovering dangerously close to elimination in 11th and 12th before finding their rhythm. Norris recovered well to claim a front-row start, while Piastri, currently leading the championship standings, could only manage sixth place after failing to extract full performance from his car in Q3.
Ferrari enjoyed a strong session, with Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton locking out third and fifth positions respectively, while George Russell in the Mercedes impressed to take fourth. Rising star Kimi Antonelli, Russell’s teammate, continued his impressive rookie campaign with seventh. Meanwhile, Ollie Bearman delivered a standout qualifying effort for Haas, earning eighth on the grid — a result that delighted the home crowd.
Carlos Sainz in the Williams took ninth, narrowly ahead of Fernando Alonso, who completed the top ten for Aston Martin.
Further down the order, several big names struggled to make an impact. Nico Hülkenberg, Liam Lawson, and Yuki Tsunoda all fell in Q2, while Alpine duo Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto also failed to progress. In Q1, Gabriel Bortoleto, Esteban Ocon, Lance Stroll, Alex Albon, and Isack Hadjar were eliminated early — with Hadjar bringing out a red flag after crashing heavily before setting a time.
The 20-year-old Racing Bulls driver lost control of his car and struck the barriers, halting the session as marshals worked to clear debris from the track. Fortunately, Hadjar emerged unhurt, though his team faces a repair challenge before Sunday’s race.
The FIA’s post-qualifying summons added further intrigue to the day’s events. While details remain limited, it’s understood Verstappen was called to explain a potential infringement related to track limits or pit lane conduct. Regardless, his pole position stands — for now — and the Dutchman will aim to convert it into yet another Grand Prix victory when the lights go out on Sunday.
As ever, qualifying once again showcased Formula 1’s thrilling unpredictability — with dominant drives, strategic blunders, and late drama setting the stage for a gripping United States Grand Prix.
F1 Qualifying Results – US Grand Prix 2025:
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – 1:32.510
- Lando Norris (McLaren) – +0.291s
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – +0.297s
- George Russell (Mercedes) – +0.316s
- Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) – +0.402s
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – +0.574s
- Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) – +0.604s
- Ollie Bearman (Haas) – +0.629s
- Carlos Sainz (Williams) – +0.640s
- Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) – +0.650s
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