AUSTIN – Max Verstappen may be starting the 2026 United States Grand Prix from the front row of the grid, but the performance of his Red Bull Racing machine has him wondering exactly where the pace went come Q3.
In that final session, the Dutch driver told media that he struggled with grip and was left with tires that failed to “come alive” when he needed it most.
Max Verstappen questions lack of pace in Q3 at US Grand Prix
Throughout practice ahead of the US Grand Prix at the Circuit of The Americas, Max Verstappen has looked strong. While Ferrari has topped the timing charts, the four-time champion has been nipping at the heels of his competitors, finishing no lower than third in any of the three pre-race sessions.
Come the critical final qualifying session on Saturday afternoon, though, Verstappen was left wanting.
“In Q2, it was really good,” Verstappen told media, including Motorsport Week, in the post-session press conference. “I mean, I did my fast lap in Q2, just on a used set. So, when I went to Q3, I had high hopes, but unfortunately, yeah, it just felt bad.
“Like, I just didn’t really have the grip that I wanted. So, I couldn’t lean on the rear that I wanted in the final sector and it just cost me too much time. Of course, when you look at the sheets and you’re starting P2, it’s nice and it’s a good result. But I was hoping for more and this was just not it.
“But if it’s a, let’s say, not a great feeling in qualifying, then that’s a P2. There’s no need to then smile and be super happy about it.”
So soon after the session, Verstappen wasn’t able to pinpoint any particular issue. While he noted that the wind had picked up throughout the session, “it’s not an excuse why Q3 felt the way it felt for me on the first run.”
“The second run, for sure, it was influenced by the wind,” he continued, “but yeah, it just didn’t feel the same. Q2 felt great on a used set and then you think, ‘OK, you put a used set on and now it’s time to really push’ and it just didn’t come alive.”
Max Verstappen narrowly misses out on pole in Austin
Considering his consistent pace throughout the weekend and his back-to-back wins in the last two races, Verstappen was an easy favorite for pole, but a lack of grip left him settling for P2.
Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli, current championship leader, set a time of 1:34.035 around the Circuit of The Americas and clocked the quickest time shortly after Verstappen set a flying opening lap on used tyres. His time was just 0.179 seconds slower, and just 0.036s ahead of Red Bull teammate Isack Hadjar.
Despite his frustration with the result, it’s a strong one for the driver, who has been critical of the bumps plaguing Texas’ Grand Prix track.
READ MORE – F1 2026 US Grand Prix – Qualifying Results
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