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RacingNews365 readers tipped Verstappen for US GP pole

Conceptual AI-generated editorial motorsport illustration; not a documentary photograph or evidence that a pictured event, meeting or transfer occurred. · 2026-10-25GPBeat newsroom · News Made Clear generated illustration

Despite Charles Leclerc’s pace in practice, respondents to a RacingNews365 poll picked Max Verstappen for pole before qualifying.

Nearly half of the voters in a RacingNews365 poll ahead of United States Grand Prix qualifying picked Max Verstappen for pole. He received 46.96% of the 1,989 votes, more than twice Charles Leclerc’s 19.66%. Kimi Antonelli received 14.78%, with Lewis Hamilton on 10.96%.

Practice offered a counterpoint. Leclerc was quickest at the end of both one-hour sessions on Friday and set the fastest lap in FP3, but that time was deleted for a track-limits breach, leaving Hamilton top of the timesheets. Verstappen split the Ferrari pair.

Sources 01
  1. SOURCEMax Verstappen handed unequivocal backing ahead of United States GP qualifyingRacingNews365 English