Norris ‘not surprised’ to miss out on Austin Sprint pole

Lando Norris secured second place for Saturday's United States Grand Prix Sprint, narrowly missing pole to Max Verstappen by just 0.071 seconds. McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri will start right behind in third. Norris expressed no surprise at Verstappen's superior pace, noting Red Bull's recent form, but remains hopeful that McLaren's stronger race pace will enable them to challenge for the win during the Sprint. Piastri, admitting to a "scruffy lap," still feels fortunate with P3 and is optimistic about improving his performance and capitalizing on any opportunities during the race. Both drivers are eager to convert their strong qualifying into a successful Sprint.