Back on track for the US GP qualifying in Austin! Like two weekends ago in Losail, this repeats the sprint format, with qualifying for the Sunday race on Friday and sprint shootout and sprint on Saturday. Who will win at the Circuit of the Americas? Let's find out together with the qualifying report!
Q1: Alonso shock!
At the end of a Q1 which saw an impressive evolution of the track towards the end, they come eliminated both Aston Martin and Williamsin addition to Hulkenberg. For Fernando Alonso (17th) is the first exclusion in Q1 of the season, which puts an end to its streak of consecutive Q3s that began in Abu Dhabi 2022. For Aston Martin, however, it is the first double exit in Q1 since Mexico 2022.
Q2: Leclerc and Verstappen in a handkerchief
Charles Leclerc closes Q2 in command, ahead of Max Verstappen for four thousandths. As in the only session of free tests of the weekend, Lewis Hamilton complete the top 3. Tsunoda eliminated, the two Alfa Romeo of Zhou and Bottas, Magnussen e Ricciardo.
Russell e Perez, ninth and tenth respectively, narrowly escaped what would have been the second twist of qualifying. In Q3, therefore, both drivers of five teams will compete for pole: Ferrari, Mercedes, Red Bull, Alpine and McLaren.
US GP qualifying: pole for Leclerc!
After the first attempt, the front row is occupied by Leclerc and Hamilton. Verstappen is third at two tenths, followed by Sainz and Gasly. After the last lap launched, Verstappen he seems to secure pole by just 5 thousandths over Leclerc, but he comes mocked by track limits and he sees his time erased.
Pole for Leclerc, therefore, in front of a super Norris and to Hamilton. Fourth place for Sainz, before Russell. Verstappen climbs to sixth position, ahead of gasly, Or with, Perez e Piastres. This, therefore, is the top 10 for Sunday's race. The appointment, however, is tomorrow with the sprint shootout and the sprint!
