Mournful Max Verstappen vows to race and make Red Bull's late founder proud in US GP

Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz will start on pole position for the United States Grand Prix after beating teammate Charles Leclerc to the top spot by 0.065 seconds.

Leclerc will be demoted 10 places following an engine penalty, promoting world champion Max Verstappen to the front row for today's race at the Circuit of the Americas.

Sergio Perez qualified fourth in the other Red Bull, but drops to ninth for exceeding his number of allocated engine parts.

Lewis Hamilton finished fifth but will take advantage of the penalties served by Leclerc and Perez to occupy the third position on the grid, with Mercedes teammate George Russell one spot back.

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Budget scandal

Verstappen's build-up to what should be his championship party in Austin, Texas, has been dominated by talk of his Red Bull team's breach of last year's budget cap.

Team principal Christian Horner went on the attack on Saturday morning, labelling McLaren boss Zak Brown's claims of cheating as "shocking and appalling".

Ahead of practice on Saturday, a group of spectators booed Verstappen and directed a chant of "cheater" at the Dutchman as he was presented on stage during a fans' event.

It was then announced that Red Bull co-owner Dietrich Mateschitz had died, aged 78, following a long-term illness.

"It has been hard news for everyone to take," said Verstappen, 25.

"What he has meant for Red Bull, but also the sport and especially what he has done for me in terms of my career so far and in general my life. Without him, I would not be sitting here today, and I would not have had the success I have had.

"It has been a very tough day. Unfortunately, we missed out on pole, but there is