United States Grand Prix Practice Session Report
Austin, TX – Lando Norris of McLaren secured the fastest lap in the only practice session ahead of today’s Sprint qualifying at the United States Grand Prix, clocking 1m33.294s on a scorching track with ambient temperatures reaching 111°F.
Norris led the session, marking his performance with a notable purple sector in the final part of the circuit, despite running off track at Turn 19. His closest rival was Nico Hulkenberg, who finished just 0.255s behind, demonstrating significant track evolution as he completed his lap as the session drew to a close.
Oscar Piastri, Norris’s teammate, required a second lap on soft tires to register a competitive time, ultimately settling 0.279s off the fastest mark.
Fernando Alonso set a strong early pace, finishing only 0.345s slower than Norris, consistent with Aston Martin’s strategy to gauge their potential during practice.
Max Verstappen expressed frustration with his car’s setup, stating it “just bottoms out” and reflected on a “way too aggressive” configuration. He ended the session 0.354s off the pace and notably struggled in the middle sector.
Additional results show Alex Albon of Williams in sixth, 0.626s down, while Mercedes drivers George Russell and Lewis Hamilton were closely matched, finishing 0.637s and 0.671s off the lead time respectively. Both teams opted for medium tires in their qualifying simulations, aligning with tire requirements for the Sprint.
Isack Hadjar, on medium tires, concluded the session in ninth place, despite reports of a power unit issue that hampered his performance. Oliver Bearman completed the top ten for Haas, ahead of teammate Esteban Ocon, who experienced a stuck-throttle issue during the session.
Carlos Sainz did not set a representative time, retiring early due to gearbox problems, while Charles Leclerc also suffered a mechanical failure, marking him last in classification.
Results Overview
- Lando Norris (McLaren) – 1m33.294s
- Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber) – +0.255s
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – +0.279s
- Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) – +0.345s
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – +0.354s
- Alex Albon (Williams) – +0.626s
- George Russell (Mercedes) – +0.637s
- Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) – +0.671s
- Isack Hadjar (Sauber) – +0.861s
- Oliver Bearman (Haas) – +1.074s
The session indicates a competitive field ahead of the Sprint qualifying, with the track’s evolving conditions likely to play a crucial role in performance.
