Verstappen could only qualify sixth for Sunday’s main grand prix but made up for a disappointing Friday qualifying with 🌠pole and victory in the sprint ra🐷ce. 

After two competitive qualifying sessions pointed to Red Bull not necessarily having it all their own way in Austin, Verstappen ultimately cruised to an easy win in the sprint race, pulling 9.4 seconds clear of 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes in just 1🌠9 laps in his superior RB19. 

Aside from Verstappen having to defend aggressively to stay ahead of 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari at the start, and then hold off a brief threat from Hamilton in🌃 the early stages, the sprint race fizzled out into a rather forgettable affair. 

"The only thing that saves us for tomorrow is that Max starts sixth,” Button told Sky afterwards.&ᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚnbsp;

"And we can say 'woh, he's that much quicker t𝕴han everyone, it's going to be easy'. It's not going to be easy.

"Overtaking here isn't easy and they proved that in this race. It wasnꦕ't very exciting because it was difficult to overtake.

"It's still going to be a challenge f♒or him tomorrow. I wouldn't want to come up behind Lewis. Would you?”

However, Hamilton is less confident about his chances of being able to kee🌸p Verstappen behind in the main grand prix.

"He has at least half a second on all the cars ahead of him, so that should be enough to get by,” the seven-time world champion admitted൲. 

"There is tyre degradation and strategy. But it is a track you ꧂can overtake [☂on] so it is likely he will be finishing high up.”

Hamilton added: "It will be helpful for us at ꧑the front [having Verstappen in sixth]. Ultimately, he will be breathing down our necks before too long, but i🎃t will open up for a good fight with Charles and Lando.

"We are all quite similar in pace. Ho൩pefully we can have a good battle. If we can📖 all keep Max behind that would be awesome, but if not, no worries."