Verstappen feared USGP pole loss in Q3 drizzle

Max Verstappen conceded he doubted he would be able to carry his pace through the final sector as drizzle fell late in qualifying for the United States Grand Prix.

Verstappen will start from pole for the eighth time this season with championship-rival Lewis Hamilton alongside him on the front row.

After starting the weekend trailing Mercedes by over nine-tenths, Verstappen ended qualifying 0.209secs clear of Hamilton despite a late shower.

“It was quite exciting out there," said Verstappen. "Also, of course, to make a lap time with the harder compound and then in Q3, my first lap wasn’t amazing.

“But then in the final lap it also started spitting with a bit of drizzle in the last sector especially so I was not sure if I was going to hang on to my lap time but it was enough to put the lap time in and be on pole position.

“But to be on P1 and P3 as a team I think was a very strong performance.”

Ahead of the USGP, a survey revealed Max Verstappen was the most popular driver among Formula 1 fans in the US, a fact backed by the loud cheers as he secured pole.

The Dutchman's Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez, who qualified third, received a similar ovation from a large contingent of travelling Mexican fans.

Asked for his thoughts with regard to Sunday's race, Verstappen added: “I guess that is what people like and from here onwards we of course hope to have a good start and then work together as a team to get the best possible result.”

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