2025 F1 United States GP Qualifying - As it happened

Carlos Sainz is quietly holding down third place after avoiding the Turn 1 melee - the Spaniard is just over a second clear of a charging Hamilton.

As it stands, it'll be a positive day for Williams with Alex Albon also inside the points in sixth

1- Verstappen

2- Russell

3- Sainz

4- Hamilton

5- Leclerc

6- Albon

7- Tsunoda

8- Bearman

A quick resolution - no action for Russell

Crack on, boys!

Stewards are looking into whether Russell's lunge sent Verstappen off the track unlawfully, even though they didn't ultimately swap positions...

Hamilton gets one up on Leclerc with a big pass into the hairpin to grab fourth place

Russell is clinging onto Verstappen to remain within DRS range but it's getting marginal - both have moved more than two seconds clear of Sainz, who has Leclerc on his tail

Stewards agree it was a racing incident - albeit a messy one - so no grid penalties coming the way of anyone for Sunday's race

Max Verstappen backs them right up with Russell and Sainz on his tail but bolts early - we are underway again

The scattering of the field at Turn 1 in avoidance of various cars and wings has led to quite the mixed up field with the likes of Yuki Tsunoda and Oliver Bearman emerging as the big winners after threading from the back all the way to the points in seventh and eighth - race about to get back underway

Fernando Alonso is also out with both McLarens after being spun around minus his front-wing.

Nico Hulkenberg is still going after pitting, while Lance Stroll, Isack Hadjar and Franco Colapinto have also been in to repair damage caused by the concertina effect on the field behind the incident up ahead

Zak Brown is under no illusions that his drivers aren't at fault for McLarens double DNF

However, the incident is triggered by Piastri's bold attempts to cut underneath Norris, which leaves Hulkenberg pinched between Piastri and to his right and Alonso to his left.

Norris is particularly unlucky after just failing to get clear of the issues behind him and being tagged by an out of control Piastri.

As chaos unfolds behind, Max Verstappen is unawares at the front and he now leads George Russell and Carlos Sainz

1 - Verstappen

2- Russell

3- Sainz

4- Leclerc

5 - Hamilton

6-Albon

7-Tsunoda

8-Bearman

Piastri could be the one to take the blame after easing off at the entry to T1 to allow Norris to come up the inside with a plan to cut underneath him on the exit

However, by doing that he'd find Hulkenberg and Alonso on his inside - contact is made and Piastri is up on two wheels and into a hapless Norris

It's a dramatic start, both McLarens are out after being caught up in a clash that flings Piastri into Norris

Everyone nailed their hill start, no failed driving tests here - almost time for lights out

Here's a fun fact for you - Hulkenberg in fourth is the best qualifying performance by Sauber since 2013!

Not only that, it was achieved by Hulkenberg in Austin.

That Silverstone podium was achieved from the back of the grid, so let's see what he can do from near the front!

Speaking of paint, there are 6 teams on the grid with special liveries for this event.

Arguably the boldest can be found at Racing Bulls, who perhaps with a tongue firmly in cheek, describe the orange and black pattern as 'tortoise' rather than 'leopard', which should have been more apt.

The press shots came with some rather 'blue steel' press shots of Hadjar and Lawson too that were giving full Zoolander...

It's hot, very hot.

Not Singapore hot, but suffice to say those painted run-offs resplendent in Texan hues will really pop under the sun

With an uphill entry and a blind apex, Turn 1 beckons multiple racing lines, a combination that has led to more than a few incidents over the years.

Last year's United States Grand Prix gave us more than one flash point in the simmering title battle between Verstappen and Norris, not least at Turn 1 when the Dutchman lunged right on the inside and ran both out wide on the exit.

It wasn't pretty, but it was gritty

That's the top four covered, but here is your full starting line-up for the United States Grand Prix Sprint Race.

As well as Hulkenberg, there were standout performances from Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso in sixth and Williams' Carlos Sainz in seventh. 

Some work to do for Ferrari in eighth and tenth with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc to come away with points from this one though

Nico Hulkenberg has had a fairly rotten time since that headline-stealing run to the podium at Silverstone - in fact, he has been point-less ever since.

But that could all change today thanks to a stellar run to fourth on the grid during qualifying in the Sauber. And who knows, maybe a second career podium is up for grabs?

That said, it's still an uphill task for Verstappen to penetrate the McLaren front line, so all eyes remain on Norris and Piastri - who start second and third - as we reach the business end of the championship.

Piastri leads Norris by 22 points (with Verstappen 63 points off the Australian), but there will be some motivation from both to put a trio of tricky rounds behind them with a return to prominence in Austin.

Still, there are fairly slim pickings up for grabs here - just 8 points for a win, going down to one point for eighth.