P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Verstappen admits ‘lucky’ escape after Red Bull qualifying calamity
Max Verstappen further increased the pressure on McLaren with a dominant performance at the United States Grand Prix, securing pole position for the race on Sunday and displaying his satisfaction with his driving.
With his stellar form in Austin, Verstappen is poised for a dream weekend, having excelled in sprint qualifying, the sprint race, and the main qualifying session, where he claimed pole without needing a second flying lap.
Reflecting on his performance post-qualifying, Verstappen praised his car’s strength in challenging conditions and acknowledged the difficulties posed by the wind on the circuit, making it harder to push as usual in sector one.
Despite encountering some issues with the out-laps that prevented a second flying lap, Verstappen’s flawless performance in qualifying underscored Red Bull’s current dominance in Formula 1.
As McLaren faced setbacks at the Grand Prix, with both their drivers retiring early, Verstappen’s success and Red Bull’s strong showing highlight their potential to close the championship gap further.
