AUSTIN — Max Verstappen seized pole position for today’s US Grand Prix while Formula One leader Oscar Piastri qualified sixth after a costly sprint race collision with his McLaren teammate Lando Norris.

Norris, polesitter at Austin’s Circuit of the Americas last year, will start alongside Red Bull’s reigning champion on the front row with both hoping to take a big bite out of the Australian’s advantage.

Piastri is 22 points clear of Norris and 55 ahead of Verstappen, who won the sprint from pole while both the McLaren drivers retired.

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, last year’s winner in Austin, qualified third fastest and will share the second row with Mercedes’ George Russell, winner of the previous round in Singapore.

Verstappen needed only one flying lap in the final phase to secure his seventh non-sprint pole of the season and 47th of his career.

The Dutch driver failed to make it around in time for a second attempt but was still nearly three-tenths faster than Norris.

“Unfortunately, I couldn’t do my final run. It was a bit messy with the out-laps, but luckily, we didn’t need it,” said the four-time world champion, who was fastest in all three phases.

Norris said he could not have done better.