‘F***ing bulls***: Verstappen blows up after ‘costly’ blunder throws US Grand Prix wide open

The United States Grand Prix has been thrown wide open after Max Verstappen made a costly error that saw his advantage vanish.

Max Verstappen was angry that Sergio Perez dirty air ruined his lap.

Max Verstappen will have his work cut out for him at the United States Grand Prix after a rare blunder cost him pole position.

In a tight qualifying session at the Circuit of the Americas, Verstappen drove the fastest lap but had his best time deleted because he went too wide over the white lines on Turn 19 and exceeded track limits.

The mistake allowed Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc to take pole position after his best time was just five thousandths of a second slower than Verstappen’s deleted lap.

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Sky Sports commentator David Croft described the mistake as “costly, costly, costly for Max Verstappen”.

So so close for Max Verstappen 😩

The Dutchman grabbed provisional pole but his time was deleted for track limits

He will start from P6 on Sunday#USGP#F1pic.twitter.com/a1rgZ9iCgX

— Formula 1 (@F1) October 20, 2023

Martin Brundle added: “Wow I was not expecting that.”

Verstappen was angry at Red Bull, suggesting his teammate Sergio Perez gave him dirty air ahead of him on the last corner as Perez was starting his flying lap.

The world champion fumed over team radio: “Well done, well f***ing done there. What the f*** was that in the last corner? F***ing bulls***.”

Verstappen thought Perez (bottom) affected his lap by being too close in front. Photo: Fox Sports.

Verstappen is chasing his 50th career race win but will have to do it the hard way after qualifying sixth fastest. Perez was ninth fastest.

There was another spicy radio exchange when Leclerc’s race engineer told him Verstappen had claimed provisional pole position.

“For f***s sake, for f***s sake,” Leclerc said.

His engineer said: “Lap time deleted for Verstappen!”

To which Leclerc replied: “Say the name before, gave me a heart attack.”

Charles Leclerc took pole position for the United States Grand Prix. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

It means Leclerc took pole position for Monday morning’s race ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris and Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton.

Leclerc is aiming to become just the fourth different driver to win a race this season after Verstappen, Perez and Sainz.

Brundle said: “Lando Norris will be thoroughly satisfied with at. It’s not pole but that’s a cracking effort to get McLaren on the front row of the grid.”

Australia’s Oscar Piastri qualified 10th fastest on a track that is not meant to overly suit McLaren, while Daniel Ricciardo will start 15th after he didn’t make it out of Q3.

In his first race weekend after missing five races with a broken hand, Ricciardo had a lap time deleted in Q2 and faces a tough task to finish in the top 10 in the grand prix.

The United States Grand Prix continues with the Sprint Race on Sunday morning, before the Grand Prix proper on Monday morning Australian time.

United States Grand Prix starting grid

1) Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)

2) Lando Norris (McLaren)

3) Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)

4) Carlos Sainz (Ferrari)

5) George Russell (Mercedes)

6) Max Verstappen (Red Bull)

7) Pierre Gasly (Alpine)

8) Esteban Ocon (Alpine)

9) Sergio Perez (Red Bull)

10) Oscar Piastri (McLaren)