Formula 1 United States GP
Horner expects "grandstand start" with Verstappen-Hamilton front row
Red Bull Formula 1 team boss Christian Horner is predicting a "grandstand start" in Sunday's Formula 1 US Grand Prix after title rivals Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton qualified on the front row.
Filip Cleeren
Edited: Feb 11, 2022, 5:47 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Red Bull's Verstappen narrowly beat Hamilton and Mercedes to pole in Saturday's qualifying session, with the second Red Bull of Sergio Perez starting third as Verstappen's rear gunner.
Verstappen and Hamilton starting side by side is a tantalising prospect after what happened earlier this season between the two rivals.
The pair made contact on several occasions, leading to a high-speed accident for Verstappen in Silverstone and a DNF for both after they tangled in Monza.
And then there's also the steep uphill run to Turn 1, which allows for different racing lines to be taken but also provides scope for the inside car to push a competitor wide, which Hamilton did to Nico Rosberg in 2015.
Red Bull chief Horner acknowledges that the start will be crucial on Sunday given how hard it is to overtake around Austin's Circuit of the Americas and is predicting fireworks in the run up to Turn 1.
"I think that it's tough to follow here, so you definitely want to lead into Turn 1," Horner told Sky.
"I think it's going to be a grandstand start up there at Turn 1. At least we've got two guys starting at the front of the field."
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, arrives in Parc Ferme after Qualifying
Photo by: Charles Coates / Motorsport Images
COTA's main overtaking spot is Turn 11, which comes after a kilometre-long DRS straight.
That could prove extra significant given Mercedes' straightline advantage on Red Bull, which worried Horner earlier in the weekend.
But Horner believes that if Verstappen nails the start, he can get out of Hamilton's range.
"I think it's pretty tough to follow in these cars, so if we can get a clean sector one, you hope by the time you get to Turn 11 you've got that little bit of a gap.
"That's going to be going to be crucial. If Max can see the yellow helmet of Sergio in his mirrors, I think he'd be a lot happier with that."
When asked about the prospect of Hamilton hounding him at the start, Verstappen said he was not worried about what could happen.
"I think we just have to focus on ourselves, try to do a good race and try to be as fast as we can," he told Sky.
"I’m not worried what happens behind me I just have to focus on myself."
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Formula 1 United States Grand Prix – How to watch, start time & more
Next article Mercedes denies Cowell absence behind F1 engine struggles
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Filip Cleeren
"It's horribly painful" - Williams drops 2026 car upgrades to benefit 2027
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
20 h
"It's horribly painful" - Williams drops 2026 car upgrades to benefit 2027
More from
Lewis Hamilton
F1 driver contracts: How long is each driver tied down for?
Formula 1
Formula 1 22 h
F1 driver contracts: How long is each driver tied down for?
Max Verstappen on Ferrari clashes: "I would never sign two number-one drivers"
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
1 d
Max Verstappen on Ferrari clashes: "I would never sign two number-one drivers"
Latest news
Carson Hocevar and Cleetus McFarland win LeMullets 2026 in epic finish
General
Misc General 4 h
Carson Hocevar and Cleetus McFarland win LeMullets 2026 in epic finish
TV ratings released for NASCAR Cup season finale
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Homestead-Miami
10 h
TV ratings released for NASCAR Cup season finale
Chase Elliott's car chief leaves Hendrick for NASCAR Truck crew chief role
NASCAR Truck
NSTR NASCAR Truck
Homestead
11 h
Chase Elliott's car chief leaves Hendrick for NASCAR Truck crew chief role
Feature
Discover prime content
Top 10 F1 cars of the 1970s
Formula 1
By Kevin Turner
Top 10 F1 cars of the 1970s
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe