Verstappen cautious of ‘tough’ McLaren challenge in COTA Sprint

Max Verstappen secured Sprint pole position at the Circuit of The Americas with a last-gasp, impressive lap, narrowly beating Lando Norris by just 0.071 seconds. This marks Verstappen's third Sprint pole at the Austin track, extending his impeccable form. Despite his commanding position, the Red Bull driver cautioned that McLaren, particularly Norris and Oscar Piastri, pose a "tough" threat for Saturday's Sprint race, citing their strong race pace. Red Bull Team Principal Laurent Mekies lauded Verstappen's exceptional skill in finding the crucial small margins needed to overcome McLaren's strong challenge in qualifying.