United States Grand Prix Sprint Qualifying Round-up

Sprint qualifying on the friday for the United States Grand Prix is divided into 3 qualifying sessions like Grand Prix qualifying but in SQ1 and SQ2, the drivers can only run the medium tyres and only then the soft tyres in SQ3. 

12 minutes in SQ1 is not a lot for the drivers and it started with Verstappen setting the pace of a 1.34.140, Hamilton less than a tenth back in P2, both McLarens and Antonelli follow. Ferrari teammate Leclerc didn't have a good lap down in P16 and Bortoleto had his laptime deleted at turn 19, going very wide and missing the apex, going off track.

As the last laps came in, Tsuonda actually missed the chequered flag, very poor timing from the Redbull team and the Haas team with Ocon who also missed the flag due an absolute car park at the last corner with a number of cars fighting for track position which also affected Leclercs lap too who just made it out in P13. Norris was on top of the session with Bearman, Colapinto, [Tsuonda, Ocon] (who missed the flag) and Bortoleto who didn't set a time all we're knocked out in SQ1.

Just 10 minutes for SQ2 and 15 drivers remaining and Hulkenburg, Hadjar, Lawson and Gasly deciding to stay in the pits and only go for the 1 lap at the end. Norris extended his margin with a 1.33.003 over Verstappen and Piastri. Russell finding lots of time from SQ1 in P4, both Williams follow him. Ferrari didn't have a good first effort P9 and P10 for them before the last laps started.

Lawson had a moment at turn 1 on his lap and went wide at turn 19, deleting his lap time and out for the Kiwi. Both Ferraris made it through by the skin of their teeth, Hamilton knocking out Antonelli of SQ1 in P10 followed by Hadjar, Gasly, Stroll and Lawson to finish the session. Norris finished at the top again.


SQ3 is slimmed down even further to just 8 minutes and it was Russell and both Williams who went out straight away to try and get 2 laps in while everyone else stayed in just for the 1 lap on the soft tyres. Max Verstappen took an incredible sprint pole lap with a 1.32 with Both McLarens behind him. Hulkenburg an amazing result for Sauber in P4 and Russels early effort getting him P5 in the end. Ferraris misery continues with P8 and P10, Hamilton ahead of Leclerc in a chess board with the Williams in P7 and P9, Sainz ahead of Albon. Alonso sitting pretty in P6 finishes SQ3.

This was the full result of the United States Grand Prix Sprint Qualifying session:





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