Quebecer Lance Stroll improved throughout the day of free practice ahead of the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix on Friday in Austin, TX.
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During the first session, the Aston Martin team driver set a best time of 1 min 36.972 s on the Circuit des Amériques. His teammate Sebastian Vettel was slower by just two hundredths of a second, at 14e rang.
Only three drivers went below the 1 min 36 s mark, namely the two Mercedes drivers Valtteri Bottas and Lewis Hamilton, as well as Max Verstappen (Red Bull). The latter still conceded nearly a second to the Finnish leader, who completed the circuit in 1: 34.874.
For the second session, most of the drivers set better times, including Stroll, who finished sixth. The 22-year-old slashed almost a second and a half in his time from the opening tries, with a fastest lap of 1: 35.561.
Sergio Perez (Red Bull) was the fastest this time around with a time of 1: 34.946. Lando Norris (McLaren) and Hamilton followed him in order. This was, however, less convincing for Verstappen (8e) and Vettel (15th).
This is a return to Austin for Formula 1, after the 2020 Grand Prix was canceled due to COVID-19. In his third appearance in Texas, in 2019, Stroll could not have done better than the 14e place on the starting grid and the 13e position after 56 laps.
Qualifying for the United States Grand Prix will take place on Saturday, followed by the race the next day.
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