FACTS AND STATS: Norris bags McLaren's first US P1 start since 2007 as Austin sees its sixth different pole-sitter in six years

Lando Norris grabbed pole in Austin from Max Verstappen, although he might consider himself lucky after some late yellow flags prevented anyone from improving on their second runs. While the championship rivals look set to resume their battle right at the front, their team mates are slightly further down the order with the Ferrari duo locking out the second row instead. Here are all the best facts and stats from a fascinating qualifying at the Circuit of The Americas.

• There have been six different pole sitters in the last six Austin Grands Prix – Lewis Hamilton, Valtteri Bottas, Max Verstappen, Carlos Sainz, Charles Leclerc and now Lando Norris.

• Norris grabbed his sixth pole of the season, and fourth in the last five Grands Prix as he bagged McLaren’s first pole in the US since Hamilton at Indianapolis in 2007.

• Norris’ lap time of 1m 32.330s is the fastest lap this decade in Austin.

• The pole sitter has lost the lead on the opening lap in five of the last six Grands Prix here in Texas.

READ MORE: Norris clinches pole position ahead of Verstappen in Austin as Russell dramatically crashes out in final moments

• Verstappen was second, missing out on his first Grand Prix pole in eight races by just 0.031s. He won this race from second on the grid in 2022.

• The driver starting second has won in Austin as many times as the driver starting on pole – five times each.

• Sainz was third, for his fifth top three start of the season although the Spaniard only has one front row so far. He also out-qualified Leclerc for the first time in six races.

• Leclerc was fourth, with Ferrari the only constructor to have both cars in the top four in Austin.

• Oscar Piastri grabbed fifth for the second straight race.

• George Russell qualified P6 but caused the double waved yellow flags that ended Q3 prematurely.

• Assuming he doesn’t need to start from the pit lane due to car damage, it’s Russell’s sixth consecutive top six start. But P6 will be Russell’s lowest start in Austin since joining Mercedes in 2022.

READ MORE: ‘Finally we’re racing again’ – Verstappen buoyed by Sprint victory at Circuit of The Americas

• Pierre Gasly was seventh, matching his 2023 Austin qualifying performance. It also ties his and Alpine’s best qualifying of the year.

• Fernando Alonso was P8, having reached Q3 seven times in the last eight race weekends. It is his highest start in Austin since 2017.

• Kevin Magnussen managed to grab his first Q3 appearance of the year and first in Austin for 10 years having also made SQ3 for the first time this year yesterday.

• Sergio Perez didn’t set a lap time in Q3 so is 10th, his lowest start in Austin since 2019.

• Yuki Tsunoda was 11th, having only reached Q3 once in the last six races.

• Nico Hulkenberg was out-qualified by his team mate for only the fourth time this season.

• Esteban Ocon’s P13 was his best qualifying since the summer break.

• Lance Stroll has only reached Q3 in Austin once in seven attempts – back in 2022.

• Liam Lawson didn’t set a lap time in Q2 thanks to his 60-place grid penalty.

• Both Williams cars exited in Q1 for the second year in a row.

HIGHLIGHTS: Watch the action from a Sprint overtaking extravaganza as Verstappen returns to winning ways in Austin

• Valtteri Bottas was P18, stopping the run of Kick Sauber having the slowest two cars in qualifying as the Finn finished ahead of his former team mate Hamilton.

• Hamilton wound up 19th, having never qualified outside the top five in 11 previous starts in Austin.

• Disregarding crashes and grid penalties, Hamilton has only qualified in the bottom two once before, in Silverstone back in 2009.

• Zhou Guanyu was the slowest car in qualifying for the sixth consecutive race.