Max Verstappen unleashes angry Perez tirade as Lewis Hamilton sets Mercedes task
F1 preview: A lap at the United States Grand Prix
Max Verstappen suffered a nightmare with track limits as the reigning world champion will start the United States Grand Prix from sixth on the grid to cap a horrible day for Red Bull. The Dutchman saw his lap time deleted by the stewards, which would have secured him pole position, after running wide at Turn 19, leaving him way down the order, while Lewis Hamilton enjoyed a big improvement in his Mercedes.
That allowed Charles Leclerc to secure his 21st career pole after the Ferraris turned on the pace in sizzling Austin temperatures. Lando Norris put in a superb lap to secure a front-row spot next to Leclerc, with Hamilton also narrowly missing out on pole and having to settle for third.
Carlos Sainz managed to squeeze ahead of George Russell in fourth with Verstappen needing to make up places in the race to get at least a podium. But with the championship already secured, the 26-year-old will be feeling relaxed as he no longer needs to pick up points.
He can at least console himself with the fact his team-mate Sergio Perez is behind him in ninth position after another limp display from the Mexican in qualifying.
Express Sport brings you live updates and all of the build-up ahead of Saturday’s sprint race at the Circuit of the Americas.
Verstappen swears at Perez in angry radio message
Max Verstappen was left furious over the team radio at the Circuit of the Americas after he felt he was impeded by Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez.
The Dutchman was challenged throughout all three parts of qualifying on Friday as Red Bull were threatened by both Ferrari and Mercedes in their bid to secure pole position.
Verstappen’s woes peaked at the worst possible time too with the 26-year-old losing time in the dirty air behind team-mate Perez heading out of the final corner on his penultimate flying lap.
The reigning world champion unleashed his frustrations on the team radio, exclaiming: “Well done, well **** done there! What the **** was that in the last corner?”
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