F1 US Grand Prix LIVE: Race schedule and start time as Lando Norris starts on pole
F1 live updates from the Circuit of the Americas as Norris starts from the front ahead of Max Verstappen
Lando Norris saw off rival Max Verstappen to take pole position for the US Grand Prix and boost his F1 championship dream.
Verstappen claimed his first win in nearly four months when he led every lap of the sprint race at Austin’s Circuit of the Americas earlier on Saturday to extend his title advantage from 52 to 54 points.
Norris finished third – after he was passed by Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz on the final lap – but he bounced back in qualifying to take spot, beating Verstappen by just 0.031 seconds.
Norris set the early pace in the shootout for pole, and then lucked-in when George Russell crashed out in his Mercedes at the penultimate corner.
Follow live updates from the United States Grand Prix with The Independent
F1 US Grand Prix: Carlos Sainz, after finishing second..
“They were fun battles, a good sprint. A lot going on, towards the end I was struggling with the tyres. We made it stick into turn one, it was a fun one!
“It’s encouraging to see for tomorrow we have a chance. For qualifying, our car is not in the best place.”
F1 US Grand Prix: Lando Norris, who finished third...
“It was a good race, I’m pretty happy with how things ended up. I thought I could hand on to second, my front tyres were completely finished.
“Disappointing end but happy with the race result, good amount of points.
“Today was a good start, good first corner. I did the most I could, we don’t have the pace on Max or the Ferraris.”
F1 US Grand Prix: Max Verstappen wins the sprint race!
Verstappen wins by 3.8 seconds!
Carlos Sainz takes second, while Lando Norris holds onto third from Charles Leclerc!
5-8: Russell, Hamilton, Magnussen, Hulkenberg
Norris and Leclerc were so close to touching in the final sector!
But a big win for Verstappen, who extends his lead in the championship from 52 points to 54 points!
F1 US Grand Prix: Final lap! (Lap 19/19)
Carlos Sainz has taken second place from Lando Norris!
Norris locked up at turn 1 on the final lap - and Norris drops to third!
Can he hold off Leclerc now?!
F1 US Grand Prix: Norris under pressure! (Lap 18/19)
Two laps remaining and Carlos Sainz now has DRS on Lando Norris - he’s 0.8 seconds behind!
Charles Leclerc also has DRS on his team-mate Sainz... should be a dramatic finish!
Top-8: Verstappen, Norris, Sainz, Leclerc, Russell, Hamilton, Magnussen, Hulkenberg
F1 US Grand Prix: Verstappen extends his lead (Lap 15/19)
Verstappen’s lead is now 2.2 seconds - it looks like he’s got the sprint win wrapped up!
Norris, in second, looks safe with seven points as Leclerc trails by 1.3 seconds.
Top-8: Verstappen, Norris, Sainz, Leclerc, Russell, Hamilton, Magnussen, Hulkenberg
F1 US Grand Prix: Oscar Piastri receives a penalty (Lap 12/19)
The McLaren - now in 12th - gets a five-second penalty for forcing Pierre Gasly off track.
A fair call. It was overly aggressive by the Aussie at turn 12.
F1 US Grand Prix: Russell continues to drop off (Lap 11/19)
Charles Leclerc now takes fourth place from George Russell coming out of turn 12!
Russell: “My front left is toast!”
Russell has dropped from second to fifth!
Top-8: Verstappen, Norris, Sainz, Leclerc, Russell, Hamilton, Magnussen, Hulkenberg
F1 US Grand Prix: Carlos Sainz takes third place (Lap 10/19)
Russell is struggling now and Sainz takes third place, with great traction in that Ferrari!
Can Sainz catch Lando?!
Top-8: Verstappen, Norris, Sainz, Russell, Leclerc, Hamilton, Magnussen, Hulkenberg
F1 US Grand Prix: Norris slowly closing the gap to Verstappen (Lap 10/19)
OK, so now the pace is coming to Lando Norris.
George Russell behind him has dropped way off - 1.6 seconds - and Norris is now 1.3 seconds off Max Verstappen.
Will he have enough time? Over halfway through the sprint race now...
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