Max Verstappen wary of ‘tough’ McLaren challenge at US Sprint Grand Prix

“It was a great qualifying,” said the Red Bull driver after jumping from the cockpit. “In all segments we were quite close. It was just a matter of putting everything together at the end, when it matters most, which is not easy because you come to the soft tires without a reference.

“It worked well. I still expect it to be a tough battle tomorrow with the Sprint, but that’s exactly what we want to see, right? So yeah, I’m excited for tomorrow and happy for today.”

Verstappen has been gradually closing in on Norris and championship leader Oscar Piastri, who will start from third place in recent weeks and arrived in Austin just 63 points off top spot, after 104 points behind leaving Zandvoort in August.

Asked how big a threat he expects the McLaren duo to be in the Sprint, he added: “A big threat. They are super fast. We know normally in the race they step up a bit, so it will be difficult.”

Talk to Sky Sports F1 After the four-time World Champion won his final Sprint Pole, Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies was quick to congratulate Verstappen for finding the small margins needed to defeat McLaren.

“It was an incredible job by the team and Max,” he said. “We were a little behind McLaren in Q1, a little behind McLaren in Q2 – a tenth, a tenth and a half. We knew it was always going to be touch and go.”

“But then Lando had put in a really good lap that was very hard to match, and Max was in line with Lando for most of the lap. But really, in the last few corners, he sent the car and got the smallest gap that we needed to get the pole.”