Max Verstappen and Lando Norris deadlocked over critical US GP decision

The leading contenders for United States Grand Prix victory, Max Verstappen and Lando Norris, are deadlocked on strategy options from the front-row.

Verstappen secured a stunning pole at Austin to capitalise on McLaren's lack of pace, with Norris nearly three-tenths slower, albeit on the front-row, and championship leader Oscar Piastri down in sixth. 

The thinking heading into the weekend was that the higher air and track temperatures would play into McLaren's strengths, with the MCL39 the strongest car at looking after its tyres in hot conditions - but the team is lacking crucial data.

This is because both Norris and Piastri were eliminated during the first corner incident in the Sprint, won by Verstappen.

Heading into the 56-lap race, all of the leading contenders have one new set of the C1 hard tyres, and one new set of the C3 medium compound, along with two used C3s.

Pirelli's prediction for the race is a simple one-stopper starting on the mediums before changing to the hards around Laps 20-26 of the 56-lapper.

Alternatively, another one-stop potential is to run mediums until Laps 28-34 before changing to the C4 softs, only used in qualifying thus far, with nobody opting for them during the Sprint.

Other options, although unlikely, include starting on the softs with both one and two-stoppers available, but all of the leading contenders only have used soft tyres available, meaning they are unlikely to be used, except for a final dash if a late safety car period is called.

Check out Pirelli's strategy options and tyre sets available below!