Sainz Sets Pace in US Grand Prix Practice as Ferrari Outshines RivalsSainz Sets Pace in US Grand Prix Practice as Ferrari Outshines Rivals

Posted : 18 October 2024

Carlos Sainz led the field during the opening practice session of the United States Grand Prix, with teammate Charles Leclerc closely trailing him. Sainz recorded the fastest lap at one minute and 33.602 seconds, edging out Leclerc by a mere 0.021 seconds. Red Bull's Max Verstappen, the three-time champion and current series leader, finished in third, two-tenths of a second behind the Ferrari duo. McLaren's Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri secured the fourth and fifth spots, respectively, while seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton and teammate George Russell rounded out the top six. Kevin Magnussen made an impressive return to Haas, finishing eighth.

Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin placed ninth, followed by Yuki Tsunoda of AlphaTauri, while Sergio Perez struggled to find pace, finishing in 16th place for Red Bull. Verstappen is eager to break his winless streak since the Spanish Grand Prix in June, especially with Norris closing the gap to 52 points in the championship race with six rounds left. After a four-week break, many teams arrived in Texas with new upgrades, with McLaren and Mercedes showcasing notable improvements on a warm and dry morning.

Norris was the first to hit the track but had a minor mishap when he misjudged his braking and went off. Initially, Leclerc set the early pace with a time of 1:36.724, but Sainz quickly joined him at the top. Russell and Verstappen soon took the lead, with the Dutchman clocking a time of 1:35.538 for Red Bull. Both Hamilton and Russell faced challenges, with Hamilton experiencing a significant spin at Turn Four, causing some tire damage.

As the session progressed, Leclerc and Sainz reclaimed the top two positions before Red Bull switched to medium and soft tires. This strategic move propelled Verstappen to the front with a lap of 1:33.855, nearly a second faster than Sainz. Perez climbed to second with 20 minutes remaining, establishing a Red Bull 1-2 ahead of the Ferraris. As the session neared its conclusion, all leaders returned to the track on soft tires. Alex Albon, marking his 100th Grand Prix, had a near miss at Turn 12, while Piastri triggered a brief Virtual Safety Car after nearly hitting the pit-entry wall.

Sainz Sets Pace in US Grand Prix Practice as Ferrari Outshines RivalsSainz Sets Pace in US Grand Prix Practice as Ferrari Outshines Rivals

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