P1racenews AI automatic summary:
George Russell is to line up in second place for the United States Grand Prix sprint, having just been pipped by Max Verstappen.
George Russell believes that the final sector of his United States Grand Prix sprint qualifying lap surprised Mercedes, leading him to secure second place on the grid for the shorter Austin race. He out-qualified both Ferraris and Lando Norris’s McLaren, narrowly missing out on pole position to Max Verstappen by just 0.012s. This marks his first front-row start since the British Grand Prix in July, showcasing the strength of the upgraded Mercedes despite a challenging free practice session. Russell expressed happiness at the team’s performance and emphasized the importance of a strong final sector in securing his position. He is optimistic about their chances in the sprint race and looks forward to battling for pole positions and victories in Formula 1. Hamilton’s sixth-place qualifying result was attributed to a yellow flag incident, but both Mercedes drivers are eager to compete at the front of the pack.
