Frustrated Verstappen qualifies second at COTA as rookie Antonelli steals pole

Max Verstappen will start Sunday’s United States Grand Prix from second on the grid after an unexplained loss of grip in Q3 at Circuit of the Americas handed pole position to Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli, who beat the Red Bull driver by 0.179 seconds.

Verstappen had looked a genuine pole contender through Q1 and Q2 — running his first Q2 lap on a used set of tyres and feeling confident heading into the final segment — but the rear grip he needed simply wasn’t there when it mattered most.

“Q1 and Q2 I felt really good,” Verstappen said. “When I went to Q3, I had high hopes, but unfortunately it just felt bad. I just didn’t really have the grip that I wanted, so I couldn’t lean on the rear that I wanted in the final sector and that just cost me too much time.”

The Dutchman was characteristically blunt about the result. “When you look at the sheets and you are starting P2 it’s nice and it’s a good result, but I was hoping for more and this was just not it. There’s no need to then smile and be super happy about it.”

Verstappen dismissed the idea that switching from used to fresh rubber between Q2 and Q3 was the cause of his struggles. “No problem normally. I’ve done that many times before. I’ve even qualified once with only two sets,” he said. “There is no explanation why in Q3 it just didn’t come together. It’s very odd that you have the best feeling on a used set.”

Despite Verstappen’s frustration, the session was a strong collective showing for Red Bull. Team-mate Isack Hadjar, making his way in his debut Formula 1 season, qualified third — his best grid position yet — just 0.036 seconds behind Verstappen and also reporting good pace on used rubber in Q2.

Verstappen arrives in Austin having won the last two races in Malaysia and Singapore, and sits fourth in the drivers’ championship on 221 points. From the front row he will have an immediate opportunity to challenge Antonelli into Turn 1, the uphill section that has been at the centre of his criticism of COTA’s surface conditions this weekend. On Thursday, Verstappen described the circuit’s bumps as “unacceptable” and “out of control” — remarks that set the tone for a difficult qualifying session he will be eager to put behind him come race day.