Verstappen braces for ‘tough’ Sprint showdown with McLaren rivals

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Max Verstappen is gearing up for a fierce fight in Saturday’s Sprint at the US Grand Prix, warning that his McLaren rivals will make life anything but easy despite his blistering pace in Friday’s qualifying.

The Red Bull clinched his third consecutive Sprint pole at the Circuit of The Americas, edging out McLaren’s Lando Norris by a razor-thin 0.071 seconds in a heart-pounding session.

But with the short-form race looming, Verstappen knows he’s in for a battle royale and the Dutchman isn’t taking anything for granted.

“It’s been a nice qualifying,” Verstappen said on Friday. “Throughout all of the segments, we were quite close.

“It was just about putting it all together at the end, when it matters most, which is not easy because you go to the soft compound with no reference.

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

A Tricky Track and Gusty Winds

Despite the triumph, Verstappen is keenly aware of the Circuit of the Americas’ unique challenges.

The bumpy layout combined with gusty winds in certain sections demands both focus and finesse, particularly on the high-speed stretches.

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“Yeah, as you can feel, like the wind is coming up and down, very gusty. The track is very bumpy as well, so the cars can easily step out on you as well in the high speed.

“So yeah, in a qualifying like that, you have to leave a few margins here and there. But still, nevertheless, I think for us, this has been, again, a very good day.”

Eyes on the Sprint start

Verstappen knows that even with pole secured, the Sprint remains a test of strategy and composure. Starting cleanly and holding off the McLarens into COTA’s Turn 1 will be key if he wants to extend his winning streak in Austin’s short-form race.

Read also: Red Bull says sorry as Tsunoda fumes over SQ blunder at COTA

“Just trying to have a good start,” he said whe asked about his prospects. “It’s a wide turn one as well. And then I hope that we have good pace in the race. But we’ll find out tomorrow.”

With the stage set for a high-stakes Sprint, fans are in for a treat. Verstappen’s pole gives him the edge, but McLaren’s pace and the unpredictable Austin circuit promise a race full of twists.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.