Lando Norris Sets Pace in USA Grand Prix Free Practice, Nico Hülkenberg Close Behind
AUSTIN, TX - Lando Norris of McLaren topped the timesheets in Friday’s Free Practice session for the United States Grand Prix, clocking a 1:33.294.Nico Hülkenberg of Sauber followed closely in second with a 1:33.549, while Oscar Piastri rounded out the top three for McLaren with a 1:33.573. The session was punctuated by disruptions,including debris requiring track clearance adn mechanical issues for several teams,impacting valuable track time.
This practice session is crucial ahead of a weekend featuring both qualifying and a sprint race, adding complexity to setup and strategy. The limited practice time is further constrained by the unique tire compounds available – C1 (hard), C3 (medium-hard), and C4 (soft) – with the C2 compound absent for this race. The performance of drivers on these compounds will be a key factor in both the sprint qualifying and the Grand Prix itself.
Session Highlights:
* Early Disruption: The session began with a delay to clear debris from Turn 19.
* Mechanical issues: Carlos Sainz’s session ended prematurely due to a gearbox problem with his Williams car. Charles Leclerc also experienced issues, reporting a smell of oil and being instructed to stop his Ferrari.
* Hamilton’s Concern: Lewis Hamilton (ferrari) reported an issue with his accelerator pedal,stating,”the accelerator pedal feels slippery,I don’t know why that happens.”
* Late Improvements: Max Verstappen (Red Bull racing) briefly led late in the session before being overtaken by Alonso and then Norris. verstappen ultimately finished fifth with a 1:33.648.
* Hülkenberg’s Surge: Hülkenberg briefly held second place before being demoted by Norris, ultimately securing P2 with a strong performance.
Top Ten results:
- Lando Norris (GB),McLaren,1:33.294
- Nico Hülkenberg (D), Sauber, 1:33.549
- Oscar Piastri (AUS), McLaren, 1:33.573
- Fernando Alonso (E), aston Martin, 1:33.639
- Max Verstappen (NL), Red Bull Racing, 1:33.648
- Alex Albon (T), Williams, 1:33.920
- George Russell (GB), Mercedes, 1:33.931
- Lewis Hamilton (GB), Ferrari, 1:33.965
- isack Hadjar (F),Racing Bulls,1:34.155
- Oliver Bearman (GB), Haas, 1:34.333