Mercedes 'nightmare' as George Russell crashes, Lewis Hamilton sinks in US Grand Prix qualifying
A George Russell crash brought about an early end to a "nightmare" US Grand Prix qualifying session for Mercedes.
Ferrari-bound seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, who had never qualified outside the top-five since the series first started racing at the Austin venue in 2012, was eliminated in the first part of the session in 18th place.
Russell's crash in the dying moments of Q3 consigned the team's mechanics to a late night to fix the damage, and ruined the laps of every driver behind him.
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Hamilton was hampered in the earlier sprint race by a wheel bearing failure on the formation lap that doesn't appear to have been properly fixed before qualifying.
George Russell crashed late in the final part of qualifying for the US Grand Prix in Austin, Texas. FOX Sports
"My goodness, what is going on there? That is a total shock," commentator Martin Brundle said after Hamilton crossed the line.
Hamilton later said the car was a "nightmare" to drive, and suggested the changes required to rectify the issues would likely breach parc ferme regulations, and force him into a pit lane start for Monday morning's (AEDT) race.
Lying sixth after the opening runs in the final part of qualifying, Russell was the first car to begin his last flying lap at in the dying moments of the session. His crash at the second-last corner meant none of his rivals were able to set final lap times.
Max Verstappen, who had won the earlier sprint race, was on course to eclipse Lando Norris' quickest lap before the crash. Oscar Piastri had just begun his lap.
As a result, Norris was gifted pole position, from Verstappen and the Ferrari duo of Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc. Piastri will start fifth.
Verstappen's sprint race victory earlier in the day was his first of any kind since the Austrian Grand Prix sprint race in June. His last victory in a grand prix came a week earlier in Spain.
Norris kept Verstappen in sight for 18 of 19 laps at the Circuit of the Americas after he launched from fourth to second out of the race start. A costly mistake at the first turn of the final lap allowed Ferrari's Carlos Sainz to slip into second.
Finishing third instead of second cost Norris a critical point in the title chase. He now trails Verstappen by 54 points with six grand prix and two sprint races left in the season.
Max Verstappen's victory in the US Grand Prix sprint race was his first victory since June. Getty
Verstappen is chasing his fourth consecutive title. He started from pole position and was never threatened for the lead. He won with a nearly four-second gap.
“Feels a bit like old times," Verstappen said.
The Dutchman has won the US Grand Prix the last three years but has not started the race from pole position since 2021.
The sprint victory should renew Red Bull's confidence it has improved a car that Verstappen has alternately called “undrivable” and “a monster” at time this season.
The race will begin at 6am Monday AEDT.
