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Jake Boxall-Legge
Jake Boxall-Legge
Edited:
Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Carlos Sainz, Scuderia Ferrari

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Pierre Gasly, Alpine F1 Team

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
George Russell, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Charles Leclerc, Scuderia Ferrari

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Tiffany Cromwell and Valtteri Bottas, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Andrea Stella, Team Principal, McLaren F1 Team

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Liam Lawson, Visa Cash App RB F1 Team

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Nico Hulkenberg, Haas F1 Team

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Kevin Magnussen, Haas F1 Team Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Jock Clear, Senior Performance Engineer, Scuderia Ferrari with Mattia Binotto, CEO and CTO, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Toto Wolff, Team Principal and CEO, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Carlos Sainz, Scuderia Ferrari

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing Nico Hulkenberg, Haas F1 Team Kevin Magnussen, Haas F1 Team

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Valtteri Bottas, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Andy Cowell, Group CEO, Aston Martin F1 Team, on the grid

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
McLaren MCL38 front wing detail

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Alpine A524 chassis detail

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Red Bull Racing RB20 steering wheel of Sergio Perez

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Haas VF-24 nose detail

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Alpine A524 front bib detail

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Mercedes F1 W15 front bib detail

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Haas VF-24 front bib detail

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
McLaren MCL38 front bib detail

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Mercedes F1 W15 front wing detail

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
The grid with a view of Turn 1 ahead of the Sprint

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Nico Hulkenberg, Haas F1 Team, gets out of the car on the grid

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Valtteri Bottas, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber, removes his helmet on the grid

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Lance Stroll, Aston Martin F1 Team, on the grid

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
McLaren pit stop wheel gun

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Valtteri Bottas, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber, on the grid

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team, on the grid

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Shaboozey and Gordon Ramsey pose in front of the car of Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38, on the grid

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Zhou Guanyu, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber, removes his helmet on the grid

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20, George Russell, Mercedes F1 W15, Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38, Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24, Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-24, the rest of the field at the start of the Sprint

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20, George Russell, Mercedes F1 W15, Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24, Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38, Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-24, the rest of the field at the start of the Sprint race

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20, George Russell, Mercedes F1 W15, Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38, Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24, Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-24, the rest of the field at the start of the Sprint race

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20, George Russell, Mercedes F1 W15, Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24, Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38, Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-24, Kevin Magnussen, Haas VF-24, the rest of the field at the start of the Sprint race

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20, George Russell, Mercedes F1 W15, Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24, Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38, Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-24, the rest of the field at the start of the Sprint race

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20, Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38, George Russell, Mercedes F1 W15, the rest of the field away

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Race start, as drivers race into the first corner

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38, George Russell, Mercedes F1 W15, Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24, Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-24, the remainder of the field at the start of the Sprint

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38, George Russell, Mercedes F1 W15, Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24, Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-24, the rest of the field at the start of the Sprint race

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38, George Russell, Mercedes F1 W15

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20, Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38, Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-24, Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Valtteri Bottas, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber C44 battles with Zhou Guanyu, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber C44

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20, Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38, George Russell, Mercedes F1 W15

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-24

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20, 1st position, in Parc Ferme

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, 1st position, Carlos Sainz, Scuderia Ferrari, 2nd position, congratulate each other in Parc Ferme

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, 1st position, Carlos Sainz, Scuderia Ferrari, 2nd position, chat in Parc Ferme

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin F1 Team

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, 1st position, Lando Norris, McLaren F1 Team, 3rd position, chat in Parc Ferme

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Carlos Sainz, Scuderia Ferrari, 2nd position, celebrates in Parc Ferme

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Sting with the Sprint top 3: Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, 1st position, Carlos Sainz, Scuderia Ferrari, 2nd position, Lando Norris, McLaren F1 Team, 3rd position

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Marshals clear away the car of Valtteri Bottas, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber C44

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
The car of Valtteri Bottas, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber C44, is moved away on a flatbed truck

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Haas VF-24 technical detail

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Ferrari SF-24 front wing detail

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Red Bull Racing RB20 technical detail

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber C44 wooden plank detail

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Alpine A524 front wing detail

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Mercedes F1 W15 technical detail

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Zak Brown, CEO, McLaren Racing, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President, FIA

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Oscar Piastri, McLaren F1 Team

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Mattia Binotto, CEO and CTO, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber, watches down the pit lane

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Ferrari SF-24 technical detail

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Haas F1 Team pitstop wheel guns

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Valtteri Bottas, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Mondo Duplantis and his fiancée Desiré Inglander

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Pato O'Ward, Reserve Driver, McLaren F1 Team

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes F1 W15

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes F1 W15

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Esteban Ocon, Alpine A524

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Valtteri Bottas, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber C44

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
George Russell, Mercedes F1 W15

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Oscar Piastri, McLaren MCL38

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-24

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Pole man Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38, parks his car in Parc Ferme

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Lando Norris, McLaren

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Pole man Lando Norris, McLaren F1 Team, celebrates in Parc Ferme

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Liam Lawson, Visa Cash App RB F1 Team, and Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin F1 Team

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Charles Leclerc, Scuderia Ferrari

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team for Sky Sports F1

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Oscar Piastri, McLaren F1 Team, chats with Pole man Lando Norris, McLaren F1 Team, in Parc Ferme

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Lando Norris, McLaren F1 Team, receives his Pirelli Pole Position Award from Pole Vaulter Armand Duplantis

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Top three qualifiers Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, pole man Lando Norris, McLaren F1 Team, Carlos Sainz, Scuderia Ferrari

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
Lando Norris, McLaren

2024 United States Grand Prix - Saturday
99

Lando Norris reckoned his United States Grand Prix pole lap was the "best of my career" after denying Max Verstappen in Formula 1 qualifying thanks to the George Russell-induced red flag.

After Q2, Norris had been almost three tenths shy of Verstappen's headline effort in the middle stage, with few drivers looking like a genuine threat to the Dutchman over a single lap.

Norris then grabbed a 0.031s advantage after the first laps in Q3 as both drivers took fresh softs at the start of the session, a lap that the Briton later conceded that he would have struggled to improve on.

Pole position went Norris' way when Russell put his car into the wall at Turn 18, which brought out the red flag and put a pin in Verstappen's effort - one that was set to be quicker than Norris' eventual pole time.

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Norris remarked over the radio that his lap was "beautiful", and later explained that he wouldn't have been able to repeat the lap if he's had another chance.

"The best of probably my career, I think. It was just a very nice lap," Norris reflected. 

"I kind of set the bar too high, because on my second lap, I was like, 'guys, I don't think I'm going to improve much here'.

"I got everything out of the car. We changed a good amount from the sprint race into qualifying today and definitely took a step forward. 

"But, man, I was still struggling a lot so I just knew I had to risk a little bit more and then give it a little extra. And it just came together perfectly, but it was definitely not a lap I could have repeated. 

"So I'm very happy, because I really wasn't expecting to be here today."

Pole man Lando Norris, McLaren F1 Team, celebrates in Parc Ferme

Pole man Lando Norris, McLaren F1 Team, celebrates in Parc Ferme

Photo by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images

Norris explained that the McLaren was falling short in the high-speed sectors versus the Red Bull, hence his first sector deficit against Verstappen.

Asked where he was risking it the most, Norris said that he had to chase the car a little bit more in those high-speed corners in order to get time out of it.

"I mean, it was just – it was a bit everywhere, honestly. But of course, the high-speed is where we struggle to touch the Red Bulls; especially Max has been extremely quick in the first sector, and the high-speed [corners]."

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella agreed that Norris' first time had been "pretty much perfect" and that his driver was going to struggle to improve on a second run.

Stella added that McLaren had been able to make concerted improvements over the set-up after the sprint race, and hoped that the MCL38 would suffer less with tyre degradation in Sunday's race compared to the sprint.

"The first lap was pretty much perfect, it would have been difficult I think for Lando to improve on a second set of tyres," Stella told Sky F1.

"I saw Verstappen was on a fast lap, which could have been a problem for us in terms of pole position, so I think the yellow flag helped us.

"Overall, it's encouraging that we've been able to improve the car from the sprint performance. We have made some tuning to the set-up. I think we understand some aspects also from a driving point of view. 

"Lando and Oscar have been able to pull it all together. P1 and P5 is important for tomorrow, and hopefully we will be able to reduce the tyre degradation, which was high in the sprint."

Additional reporting by Filip Cleeren

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