00:06 – Leclerc’s masterpiece, Ferrari flies. Max beyond limits
(Daniele Sparisci) Ferrari is back on the circuit of the Americas. With Charles Leclerc, master of the flying lap. The twenty-first career pole is a masterpiece of ambition, built from the first meters in Texas. And defended with a heartbeat when the sensors canceled Verstappen’s best time who had been ahead of the Monegasque by 5 thousandths at the last attempt.
It would have been a joke, Charles starts (Sunday, these qualifications were valid for Sunday’s race) in front of everyone for the third time in the season after Baku and in Spa, where he had been promoted by SuperMax penalties, here he put every ounce of his talent into it . And even if the World Championship is now won by the Dutchman, it is a pole that is good for the Cavallino after the misstep in Qatar.
Leclerc, Norris, Hamilton, Sainz, Russell, Verstappen, Gasly, Ocon, Perez, Gasly.
00:00 – Verstappen’s time cancelled, Leclerc on pole
Verstappen had beaten Leclerc by 5 thousandths, but went beyond the limits of the track. The pole belongs to Charles.
11.56pm – Leclerc and Sainz attack the front row
The final attempts for the Ferrari drivers begin, Charles seems to be going very well.
11.54pm – The last attempts begin, 5′ to go
It’s a Ferrari in form, but Verstappen still has a few shots available to take pole away from Leclerc.
11.52pm – Hamilton also flies, but Leclerc remains in front
Leclerc remains ahead of Hamilton, Verstappen is third. Charles dreams of pole.
11.51pm – Ferrari does well
In Austin, Ferrari seems to have regained the competitiveness it had before Qatar, even Sainz is now going strong.
11.47pm – Q3 begins, pole is decided
The last qualifying session of the US GP begins. The pole for Sunday’s race will be assigned (shootout qualifications and Sprint Race on Saturday).
11.43pm – The top 10 of Q2
Leclerc, Verstappen, Hamilton, Sainz, Ocon, Norris, Gasly, Piastri, Russell e Perez.
11.40pm – Q2 ends, those eliminated
Tsunoda, Zhou, Bottas, Magnussen, Ricciardo.
Charles overtakes Verstappen, Sainz follows him by 298 thousandths.
11.36pm – Sainz must enter the top 10
Sainz at risk of elimination, must push to enter the top 10.
11.34pm – The provisional top of Q2
Verstappen, Piastri, Ocon, Gasly, Perez.
Ore 23:30 – Vola Verstappen
Verstappen becomes the new reference in 1:35”491, with Piastri at 85 thousandths
Ore 23:29 – Bene Hamilton e Russell
The two Mercedes drivers set good times in the first attempts.
The second qualifying session of the US GP begins.
11.24pm – Aston Martin disaster
Both Alonso and Stroll were eliminated in the first qualifying session.
Pray 23:22 – The top 5 of Q1
Hamilton, Norris, Verstappen, Sainz, Tsunoda,
11.18pm – Q1 finished, those eliminated. Alonso out
Excluded in the first session, the first surprise is Alonso (17th). Hulkenberg, Albon, Stroll and Sargeant are also out. The fastest is Hamilton ahead of Norris and Verstappen.
11.14pm – Verstappen ahead of Sainz
Max’s lap was monstrous, taking half a second off Carlos Sainz.
23:12 – Sainz ahead of Leclerc
Sainz and Leclerc in front of everyone. Verstappen is only now out on new tyres. The comparison will be better understood here.
11.10pm – Sainz looks for a good lap
In Texas Carlos is struggling more than Charles, the Spaniard is increasing the pace with the new soft tyres.
11.09pm – The provisional top 5 of Q1
Hulkenberg, Verstappen, Leclerc, Russell, Norris
Ore 23:07 – Verstappen vola
Max takes the lead with an advantage of 152 thousandths over Leclerc. Hamilton tries but makes many small mistakes, Mercedes is not easy to control. Russell also risked leaving.
11.06pm – Perez 58 thousandths behind Leclerc
The Mexican is closing in on Leclerc, all eyes in the Red Bull garage are focused on his performances. He must find those from the beginning of the season.
Lando Norris laps on the soft tires in 1’36”622 and places himself ahead of the two McLarens of Norris and Piastri.
11.03pm – Verstappen winner of the last two editions in the USA
Max Verstappen won in both 2021 and 2022 and is still favored in Texas.
10.58pm – Qualifying starts
Leclerc immediately launches onto the track, like Carlos Sainz. McLaren also leaves.
10.50pm – Curiosities about Haas in Red Bull style
Haas has presented some Red Bull-style updates, for some it is the appetizer for Ferrari’s turning point for 2024. It will be interesting to follow the performances of the American team, which have been good so far.
10.43pm – Everything is ready for the qualifications in the USA
Verstappen can set his sights on his 31st career pole, Leclerc is ready to challenge him. But for Ferrari the goal is to stay ahead of Mercedes, Hamilton was also competitive in free practice.
9.50pm – Qualifying at 11pm
The starting grid for Sunday’s GP will be decided in Texas in the penultimate round of the World Championship with the Sprint format.
8.35pm – The usual Verstappen, but Leclerc is very close
Even with the World Championship already in his pocket, Max Verstappen has no desire to give up and is aiming for the 50th victory of his career. The first and only free practices of the US GP in Austin ended under his influence: first half and the usual incredible ease in extracting performance from Red Bull.
But behind it there is a viable Ferrari, at least in the hands of Leclerc. The Monegasque, despite the initial difficulties, found the right lap in the end, finishing just a tenth behind and putting himself ahead of Hamilton. Mercedes has brought technical innovations, a new fund, and wants to secure second place in the constructors’ championship. Sergio Perez (4th) wakes up struggling with the rumors of a possible torpedo for next year. It’s up to him to prove them wrong on the track with convincing performances.
For now, McLaren remains in the shadows, given as a possible favorite for victory: Norris 15th and Piastri 19th. Who knows if these are real difficulties. Sainz’s effort (8th) is not a bluff as he warned several times of the SF-23’s bouncing, amplified by the bumpy asphalt of Texas. There could be surprises in qualifying at 11pm.
8.28pm – Free practice finished, the top 5
Verstappen, Leclerc, Hamilton, Perez, Magnussen
8.26pm – Leclerc rings
Leclerc one tenth behind Verstappen, it’s a good lap from the Monegasque. Behind him is Hamilton.
8.22pm – Verstappen returns to the lead
Max laps in 1:35.912 with the red tyres, he regained first position with extreme ease with a six-tenths advantage over Albon
8.18pm – The qualifying laps begin
Albon simulates a qualifying lap with red tires and takes the provisional lead from Norris and Hamilton. At 11pm he will start the hunt for pole.
8.14pm – Norris the fastest
Lando Norris with the medium tires lapped in 1’37”256, putting himself ahead of Hamilton and Verstappen. Fourth time for Sainz with Ferrari.
8.10pm – Sainz struggles more than Leclerc
In Austin Leclerc started better than Sainz, the distance between the two in the standings is eight points in favor of the Spaniard.
8.03pm – McLaren, Norris better than Piastri
McLaren comes from two double podiums in a row, Piastri won the last Sprint Race in Qatar. At the moment it is considered the second force in the World Cup. Even if Norris is doing better than his teammate for now.
7.59pm – Leclerc improves
Sixth time for the Monegasque who is starting to gain confidence with Ferrari.
Ore 19:56 – Bene Hamilton
Excellent time for Lewis Hamilton on the hard tyres. Mercedes has brought some updates to Austin at the bottom which should also serve as a basis for 2024. From Ferrari’s finished developments, everything is focused on the next single-seater.
7.52pm – The top 5 after 20′
Hamilton, Verstappen, Norris, Tsunoda, Magnussen.
7.50pm – Porpoising, Ferrari jumps too much
Carlos warns over the radio: “The car jumps a lot.” In Austin, bumpy asphalt increases the porpoising phenomenon.
7.45pm – Brake problems for Stroll and Alonso
From the Aston Martin pits they order the two drivers to return to the pits due to a problem with the brake pedal. Lawrence Stroll’s team is experiencing a very disappointing end to the season after a surprising start.
7.41pm – Leclerc and Sainz are struggling
From the first outings it seems like a nervous and still unbalanced Ferrari, Leclerc and Sainz are struggling to find performance.
7.38pm – The top 5 after 10′
Verstappen, Hamilton, Bottas, Perez, Norris
7.35pm – Verstappen the fastest
Max Verstappen lapped in 1:39.736 on hard tyres. He remains the favorite here too, aiming for victory number 50 of his career.
7.30pm – Cars on the track
The FP1 of the US GP in Austin has begun, Sainz takes to the track immediately. Ferrari must immediately find the right set-up to forget the misstep in Qatar.
7.21pm – Only one free practice session
Let’s remember the weekend programme: a single free practice session, then at 11pm the qualifying sessions which will define the starting order for Sunday’s GP. Shootout qualifications and Sprint Race tomorrow.
7.13pm – We see Ricciardo again, Perez under examination
Daniel Ricciardo returns to drive the AlphaTauri: the Australian had injured his wrist during the Dutch GP at the end of August and had left the wheel to the New Zealander Liam Lawson. He could be one of the options to replace Sergio Perez next year, if the Mexican continues to disappoint Red Bull’s expectations.
6.20pm – Ferrari chasing second place in constructors
5.30pm – Leclerc’s helmet: a tribute to Gianni Morandi
Charles Leclerc will race the US GP with a special helmet: with the number 16 which recalls the graphics used on the jerseys of NFL players and completely green. «It’s green like hope, I’m singing a song by Morandi that talks about a green meadow where hopes are born…».
5.25pm - Where to watch the Austin GP on TV
The entire Formula 1 weekend will be visible on Sky Sport F1, Sky Sport Uno, in 4K and streaming on Now.
5.20pm – Racing in Texas
2023-10-20 22:07:30
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