During the United States GP Sprint Qualifying, Max Verstappen experienced a mishap when he hit the kerbs in the second segment of the session. This qualifying format required drivers to use medium tires in Q1 and Q2, and then switch to soft tires in Q3. However, due to limited availability of new sets of softs, most drivers had to wait for a long time before heading out.
The Incident
In the crucial Q3 session, Verstappen finally went out on the track and set an impressive time of 1m34.538s. Unfortunately, as he pushed his limits, he exceeded the track limits and went off the track after hitting the kerbs.
Consequences
Verstappen’s mistake cost him valuable time and compromised his position on the starting grid for the race. The incident served as a reminder of the challenges posed by the track limits, which have been a topic of discussion in Formula 1.
The incident during the United States GP Sprint Qualifying session highlighted some of the difficulties faced by drivers, particularly regarding track limits. While Verstappen’s incident was unfortunate, it added an extra layer of excitement and unpredictability to the race weekend.