Sunny. Dry. Air +35…36С, highway +42С
Organizers of the US Grand Prix in Austin continued to experiment with the format, and in 2023 the weekend included a Saturday sprint. Qualifying for Sunday’s race took place on Friday – and the stands were completely filled.
Spectators in Texas fell in love with Formula 1, plus quite affordable (compared to other American stages) prices, excellent entertainment program – and again success.
Daniel Ricciardo has returned to AlphaTauri. Having replaced the sacked Nick de Vries in Hungary, he spent only two stages, and in Zandvoort he suffered a hand injury. The Australian missed five races – he was replaced by Liam Lawson, but got behind the wheel again in Austin.
Mercedes, Haas F1 and AlphaTauri brought new products in preparation for the next season, devoting a stage to testing them – other tasks in the championship were practically solved.
During practice, Aston Martin experienced problems with brake cooling. Stroll handed the car over to the mechanics after five laps, Alonso drove more, but ended up only 19th.
In the morning, Max Verstappen headed the protocol, but the results turned out to be very tight, which further increased interest in qualifying.
Pirelli again brought the “medium” three compounds to the stage – C2, C3 and C4, labeled Hard, Medium and Soft.
In the first session Everyone rode on Soft as usual, but many chose the rolled-in set, saving new tires for the next sessions.
The riders were again severely fined for violating the boundaries of the track, so they had to complete the lap not only quickly, but also accurately, and not everyone succeeded in the latter.
The results were tight, with Hamilton topping the protocol with a lap time of 1:35.091. Norris lost to him by only two hundredths. Hulkenberg, Alonso, Albon, Stroll and Sargent dropped out of further competition.
In the second session The pattern was repeated – the first fast lap (for almost everyone) was on rolled-in tires, the second – on a new set. The stewards adjusted the teams’ plans – in the first attempt, Norris’s best lap on fresh tires was canceled, so they had to give it their all in the second.
Leclerc headed the protocol, four thousandths ahead of Verstappen – 1:35.004. Tsunoda, Zhou, Bottas, Magnussen and Ricciardo did not qualify for the final.
In the final in the first attempt, Leclerc showed the best time, completing a lap in 1:34.829. Verstappen bumped into his teammate’s car in the first attempt and remained only third.
In the second attempt, Verstappen’s lap was canceled – and the best time remained with Leclerc – 1:34.723.
Charles Leclerc won qualifying in Austin, taking his 21st career pole and third this season.
Along with him, Lando Norris will start the race from the first row, Lewis Hamilton and Carlos Sainz will start the race from the second, and George Russell and Max Verstappen will start the race from the third.
Qualification results
Driver Team 1st session 2nd session 3rd session M Time Kr M Time Kr M Time Kr 1. Ch.Leclerc Ferrari 9 1:36.061 9 1 1:35.004 6
1
1:34.723
6
2. L. Norris McLaren 2 1:35.110 8 6 1:35.441 6
2
1:34.853
6
3. L. Hamilton Mercedes 1 1:35.091 6 3 1:35.240 6
3
1:34.862
6
4. K. Sainz Ferrari 4 1:35.824 6 4 1:35.302 6
4
1:34.945
6
5. D.Russell Mercedes 14 1:36.165 6 9 1:35.606 6
5
1:35.079
6
6. M. Verstappen Red Bull 3 1:35.346 6 2 1:35.008 6
6
1:35.081
6
7. P. Gasli Alpine 13 1:36.158 7 7 1:35.496 6
7
1:35.089
6
8. E.Okon Alpine 12 1:36.131 9 5 1:35.413 6
8
1:35.154
6
9. C.Perez Red Bull 6 1:35.989 6 10 1:35.679 5
9
1:35.173
6
10. O. Piastri McLaren 10 1:36.064 9 8 1:35.576 5
10
1:35.467
6
11. Yu.Tsunoda AlphaTauri 5 1:35.913 6
11
1:35.697
6
12. G. Zhou Alfa Romeo 8 1:36.052 9
12
1:35.698
6
13. V. Bottas Alfa Romeo 11 1:36.082 9
13
1:35.858
6
14. K.Magnussen Haas 7 1:36.009 6
14
1:35.880
6
15. D.Ricciardo AlphaTauri 15 1:36.213 6
15
1:35.974
6
16. N. Hulkenberg Haas
16
1:36.235
6
17. F. Alonso Aston Martin
17
1:36.268
8
18. A. Albon Williams
18
1:36.315
6
19. L. Stroll Aston Martin
19
1:36.589
9
20. L.Sargent Williams
20
1:36.827
8
2023-10-22 00:57:38
#Grand #Prix #Paul #Leclerc
