Overview
- Verstappen topped qualifying with a 1:22.207 lap, 0.201s ahead of Norris and 0.230s clear of Piastri.
- Norris clinches the championship with a podium; Verstappen needs to win with Norris fourth or lower; Piastri’s path requires victory with Norris sixth or lower.
- Red Bull executed a tow from Yuki Tsunoda to boost Verstappen’s laps, with Tsunoda starting 10th after not setting a Q3 time.
- The top grid spots are Verstappen, Norris and Piastri, followed by Russell fourth, Leclerc fifth and Alonso sixth, with Bortoleto, Ocon and Hadjar seventh to ninth.
- Hamilton crashed in FP3 and was out in Q1 for a third straight race to start 16th; the race begins 5:00 p.m. local (1:00 p.m. GMT) at a track where winners have started from pole since 2015.