US Grand Prix: Max Verstappen takes Austin pole with Lando Norris second and Oscar Piastri sixth

Piastri, who started third for the sprint, struggled throughout qualifying and never looked quick.

“Just a tricky session, didn’t really feel terribly comfortable out there and the lap times show (it),” he said. “But a long race tomorrow and a lot can happen so try and make up some ground.

“(The car was) just a little bit unpredictable. It was very tight for the positions ahead of me. Some things to try and look at.”

Russell gained one place from his grid position for the sprint, which he finished second, and Hamilton was just 0.105secs off Leclerc in putting the Ferrari fifth.

The seven-time world champion said: “We had a bit of improvement compared to yesterday. The car still wasn’t quite right throughout qualifying. I had massive understeer from the beginning so bit by bit I was adding and adding wing.

“Towards the end it got a little bit better but it’s almost too late that you get that confidence. To be third and fifth is a real step forward.”

Behind Piastri, Kimi Antonelli put the second Mercedes seventh, while Oliver Bearman secured the best of the rest position in eighth place for Haas, ahead of the Williams of Carlos Sainz and Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso.

Isack Hadjar will start on the back row after crashing heavily at the start of qualifying, losing control of his Racing Bulls going into Turn Six.