Verstappen rues lost freebie after Austin qualifying 'mess up'

Max Verstappen accepted that a crucial error cost him pole position for the United States Grand Prix, whilst he was unable to benefit from "free" lap time. 

The reigning world champion was the driver to beat going into qualifying after winning the F1 sprint. 

Verstappen topped both Q1 and Q2, yet an error on his first Q3 lap handed title rival Lando Norris pole. 

A mistake at Turn 19 cost the reigning world champion, whose opening lap time was 0.031s slower than Norris'.

However, the Dutchman knew he had the ability to produce a lap good enough for pole, with him having been up on Norris through the first sector on his final lap. 

Unfortunately, a crash at the penultimate corner for George Russell saw nobody improve, due to double-waved yellow flags. 

Verstappen was not frustrated with the situation given he starts on the front row, but recognised that without the error pole was more than achievable. 

"I was a good amount up, but already my first lap in Q3 I messed up Turn 19, so I don't know what happened there," said Verstappen. 

"Just turned in probably a bit late, tried to carry a bit more speed. But then, of course, when you're late, you end up really wide so I had to downshift one more time. 

"So I lost quite a bit of lap time there, that would have already been enough for pole. So I knew that the second lap, there was time to find for free, but yeah, never really got to that corner. 

"That happens, qualifying, it's not always in your control. I think, in general, though, for us, this whole weekend so far has been a lot more positive. We could at least fight for pole and that has been a while."