Verstappen Critiques Red Bull's 'Kangaroo' Performance in US Qualifying

Max Verstappen is set to start the United States Grand Prix alongside championship leader Kimi Antonelli, but his journey to the front row wasn’t without its share of hiccups. The Dutchman found himself just shy of securing a third straight pole position. The pole went to Antonelli, who is on the cusp of clinching the championship, but he won’t have an easy ride with Verstappen breathing down his neck at the start.

Reflecting on the qualifying session, Verstappen noted the peculiar behavior of his Red Bull car in Q3, likening its performance to that of a 'kangaroo'. While his tires carried him comfortably through Q1 and Q2, the final session saw a troubling shift. "Q1 and Q2 were nice," Verstappen shared with Sky Sports, "but in Q3, the new sets didn’t have a good balance. I started sliding a lot, and with the tail wind, it just wasn't happening."

The moment of truth came when Verstappen hit a bump during his last lap, causing the car to lurch unpredictably. "It was like a kangaroo," he quipped, acknowledging that the lap was effectively over at that point. Despite this setback, Verstappen managed to secure P2 and will start the race from the front row.

There's a silver lining for Verstappen as he prepares for Sunday's race. He starts with the inside line heading into Turn 1, a position that has proven advantageous in past races at the Circuit of the Americas. History shows that the driver starting second has led the first lap in five of the last eight races, a statistic that may provide a morale boost for Verstappen as he aims to disrupt Antonelli's title ambitions and chase another Grand Prix win.