Lando Norris topped the timesheets in a frantic single practice session at the United States Grand Prix, as teams scrambled to make the most of their only hour of prep before Sprint qualifying later on Friday.
The McLaren driver clocked a 1m33.294s to head an unexpected top three, with Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg slotting into second ahead of Oscar Piastri.
This weekend’s Sprint format limited teams to just 60 minutes of track time to prepare for this afternoon’s Sprint qualifying, making every lap count as all 20 cars hit the circuit early to cram in as much data gathering as possible.
Lewis Hamilton led the initial running on hard tyres with a 1m34.857s, 0.569s ahead of Max Verstappen, before the session was red-flagged 21 minutes in when debris from Lance Stroll’s Aston Martin scattered across the circuit.
After a brief five-minute pause, teams resumed their long-run simulations, still avoiding the softer compounds as track temperatures climbed. The intensity ramped up in the final 15 minutes as most switched to mediums or softs in preparation for qualifying.
The order shuffled rapidly as George Russell, Yuki Tsunoda and Verstappen each briefly went fastest before Fernando Alonso delivered a 1m33.639s on softs to take the top spot.
But the Aston Martin veteran’s reign was short-lived — Norris’s smooth and committed lap put him three tenths clear, setting a benchmark no one could match.
Piastri found late improvement to climb to third, but Hulkenberg’s last-gasp flyer for Sauber — helped by a rapidly evolving track surface — split the McLarens to claim an unlikely second place.
Alonso’s early pace left him fourth, ahead of Verstappen in fifth.
Mixed Fortunes for Ferrari and Williams
Alex Albon impressed for Williams in sixth, just ahead of Russell’s Mercedes and Hamilton, who could manage only eighth once the field switched to softer compounds.
Rookies Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) and Oliver Bearman (Haas) completed the top ten, both delivering assured performances in the tightly packed midfield.
Charles Leclerc endured a frustrating session, forced to abandon his flying lap after reporting gearbox issues and a smell of oil in his Ferrari.
Carlos Sainz fared no better – the Spaniard limited to just nine laps after a gearbox problem curtailed the running plan of Williams’ second car.
With the times tight and grip levels evolving, the stage is set for a tense Sprint qualifying session, and perhaps a few more surprises under the Texas sun.
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