Ferrari kicked off the Sprint weekend in Austin with a strong performance, dominating the only practice session. Carlos Sainz took the top position, narrowly beating teammate Charles Leclerc, thereby setting up an exciting atmosphere for the upcoming Sprint Qualifying for the United States Grand Prix. Sainz finished just 0.021 seconds ahead of Leclerc, showcasing Ferrari’s strength after a four-week lull from racing.
In the mix of title challengers, Max Verstappen and Lando Norris were closely matched, with only a tight 0.013 seconds separating them. Verstappen leads the Drivers’ Championship with a comfortable 52-point margin over Norris, who has been gradually closing the gap to the reigning champion.
The championship narrative has gained momentum, particularly after Red Bull’s adjustments to their controversial ride-height device. Competing teams have expressed concerns that this modification could give Red Bull an unfair edge by allowing them to alter their car’s ride height under certain circumstances. Red Bull has maintained that the device cannot be used when the car is fully assembled, countering any allegations of misconduct.
During the practice session, Verstappen was the first of the leading drivers to try out soft tyres, which resulted in more challenging conditions as he attempted to achieve a competitive lap time. His fastest effort left him just 0.253 seconds behind Sainz. Lando Norris followed him closely in terms of timing, finishing 0.266 seconds off the pace, while Oscar Piastri, also representing McLaren, secured fifth place. Both McLaren and Red Bull showcased their upgraded packages at the Circuit of the Americas, adding to the competitive excitement surrounding the Sprint event.
Looking ahead to Sprint Qualifying, it is scheduled for 10:30 PM on Friday night, determining the grid for the Sprint at 7 PM on Saturday. Mercedes has introduced a major upgrade package for the United States Grand Prix as well, but both Lewis Hamilton and George Russell faced difficulties in their practice runs. Hamilton experienced a dramatic spin in the high-speed first sector after hitting a bump, completing a full 360-degree turn. Russell had a similar incident, spinning out at Turn One shortly after, underlining the challenges posed by the newly resurfaced track, which has led to significantly quicker lap times compared to last year.
On the timing sheets, Hamilton clocked in 0.361 seconds slower than Sainz, with Russell lagging another tenth behind, indicating difficulties for Mercedes in harnessing grip on the harder tyres, which are expected to be the main choice for both the Sprint and the main race.
Meanwhile, Haas driver Kevin Magnussen managed to clinch an eighth-place finish, while Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin came in ninth, and Yuki Tsunoda rounded out the top ten for Red Bull. Liam Lawson made his return to F1 with RB, replacing Daniel Ricciardo, and finished 13th. Lawson is keen to impress Red Bull for a potential 2025 seat but faces challenges since the installation of a new power unit has pushed him over the season limit for engines, resulting in a back-of-the-grid start for Sunday’s race.
The competition within the team is heating up as both Tsunoda and Lawson aim to outperform each other, potentially vying for the chance to partner with Verstappen next year if Sergio Perez falters in the last six races. Perez, currently contracted with Red Bull until 2025, struggled during practice, finishing in 16th place and finding himself a second off the pace, raising concerns about his performance as the championship race intensifies.
United States GP Practice Timesheet
| Driver | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1) Carlos Sainz | Ferrari | 1:33.602 |
| 2) Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | +0.021 |
| 3) Max Verstappen | Red Bull | +0.253 |
| 4) Lando Norris | McLaren | +0.266 |
| 5) Oscar Piastri | McLaren | +0.306 |
| 6) Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | +0.361 |
| 7) George Russell | Mercedes | +0.491 |
| 8) Kevin Magnussen | Haas | +0.494 |
| 9) Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | +0.510 |
| 10) Yuki Tsunoda | RB | +0.711 |
| 11) Nico Hulkenberg | Haas | +0.762 |
| 12) Pierre Gasly | Alpine | +0.773 |
| 13) Liam Lawson | RB | +0.841 |
| 14) Alex Albon | Williams | +1.016 |
| 15) Lance Stroll | Aston Martin | +1.017 |
| 16) Sergio Perez | Red Bull | +1.036 |
| 17) Esteban Ocon | Alpine | +1.204 |
| 18) Valtteri Bottas | Sauber | +1.439 |
| 19) Franco Colapinto | Williams | +1.646 |
| 20) Zhou Guanyu | Sauber | +3.617 |
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