Ferrari stars Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton both struggled mightily for pace, squeezing through SQ2 in P8 and P10 respectively after the former was 13th fastest in SQ1 – finishing SQ3 in exactly the same order they finished the previous outing.

Max Verstappen kept the pressure on McLaren and further reduced Oscar Piastri’s lead in this year’s world championship on Sunday by cruising to a commanding victory at the United States Grand Prix.

McLaren's Piastri finished fifth with his teammate and closest rival Lando Norris second after passing Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, last year's winner, five laps from the chequered flag.