Max Verstappen refuses to celebrate US GP qualifying result: 'No need to smile'

After securing the second position in Friday's United States Grand Prix qualifying session at Circuit of the Americas, Max Verstappen expressed that there is no need to celebrate his performance. Despite starting Q3 with a high level of confidence, the Dutch driver encountered a lack of grip, which ultimately prevented him from challenging for pole position.

Red Bull teammate Kimi Antonelli claimed the top spot, while team-mate Isaac Hadjar secured third place, marking Verstappen's best qualifying result to date. The Dutchman attributed his underwhelming performance to the poor grip, stating that he did not have the necessary rear-end grip in the final sector. Although the wind contributed to the poor conditions, Verstappen insisted that the lack of grip was the real issue, as Q2 had felt much better on a used set.

He also dismissed the possibility that switching to fresh rubber was the cause, revealing that he had previously qualified with only two sets of tyres. Red Bull remains strong in the championship, with Hadjar finishing just behind Verstappen in third place. Despite his criticism of the track conditions, Verstappen will attempt to take advantage of Antonelli's position on the front row at Turn 1 during the upcoming race.