AUSTIN, Texas -- Max Verstappen stormed to pole position for the U.S. Grand Prix ahead of McLaren's Lando Norris , with championship leader Oscar Piastri struggling to sixth.

Verstappen's lap time of 1:32.510 at the beginning of Q3 was enough. Red Bull did not send him out in time for a final attempt, but as it turned out he did not need one. Norris finished 0.291 seconds behind at the Circuit of the Americas.

The front-row lockout will give Verstappen, who has become a wild-card outsider in the title fight of late, and Norris a chance to cut the gap to Piastri in the standings Sunday.

"It was good," Verstappen said after qualifying. "I think in every segment the car was very strong. Just trying to put the lap together around here sometimes can be quite tricky. Also, it's very hot

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