Max Verstappen is adamant his title fight with Lando Norris will not fracture in the same manner his battle with Lewis Hamilton did in 2021.

McLaren’s Lando Norris edged Red Bull’s Max Verstappen for the pole at the United States Grand Prix on Saturday

The outcome means Verstappen leads Norris by 57 points in the F1 Drivers' Championship Standings with five races remaining, having gained five points on the McLaren driver through the course of the weekend. Verstappen hasn’t won a Grand Prix in nine events but still remains firm favorite for a fourth crown.

Verstappen cruised to the win by almost 4 seconds, as Lando Norris lost second place on the final lap to Carlos Sainz. Verstappen has gained two more points on Norris, making it a 54-point gap in the Drivers’ Championship as time continues to run out for the Papaya team.

The trial is expected to last between four and six weeks, according to Judge Max Wiley. Penny, 25, has pleaded not guilty to the charges of second-degree manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide in connection with Jordan Neely's death.

The victory boosted Verstappen’s confidence in the car since he has not won any of the last nine F1 races – eight grands prix and one sprint.