However, McLaren is still in better shape than championship rival Alpine, after Esteban Ocon was also knocked out in Q1, while Fernando Alonso qualified ninth, but has a five-place grid penalty.
Alex Albon will start in the top ten, having qualified 11th, ahead of both AlphaTauris; Pierre Gasly complaining loudly about the same front brake problems that dogged the cars in Japan.
Sunday brings every chance of recovery, however, thanks to the grid penalties that will bring a refreshingly varied line-up on the front rows.
There’s a familiar question hanging over the frontrunners though, as Red Bull looks for a win to confirm the 2022 constructors’ title: can Ferrari convert its qualifying performance into race pace?
“Tomorrow I think Red Bull are still the favourites,” said a pessimistic Sainz. They normally get us in the race because Max does a very good job and Red Bull has a very good car in race trim.”
2022 United States Grand Prix qualifying results
Position | Driver | Team | Time |
1 | Carlos Sainz | Ferrari | 1min 34.356sec |
2 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1min 34.421sec |
3 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | 1min 34.448sec |
4 | Sergio Perez | Red Bull | 1min 34.645sec |
5 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | 1min 34.947sec |
6 | George Russell | Mercedes | 1min 34.988sec |
7 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin | 1min 35.598sec |
8 | Lando Norris | McLaren | 1min 35.690sec |
9 | Fernando Alonso | Alpine | 1min 35.876sec |
10 | Valtteri Bottas | Alfa Romeo | 1min 36.319sec |
Q2 times | |||
11 | Alex Albon | Williams | 1min 36.368sec |
12 | Sebastian Vettel | Aston Martin | 1min 36.398sec |
13 | Pierre Gasly | AlphaTauri | 1min 36.740sec |
14 | Zhou Guanyu | Alfa Romeo | 1min 36.970sec |
15 | Yuki Tsunoda | AlphaTauri | 1min 37.147sec |
Q1 times | |||
16 | Kevin Magnussen | Haas | 1min 36.949sec |
17 | Daniel Ricciardo | McLaren | 1min 37.046sec |
18 | Esteban Ocon | Alpine | 1min 37.068sec |
19 | Mick Schumacher | Haas | 1min 37.111sec |
20 | Nicholas Latifi | Williams | 1min 37.244sec |