Lando Norris made a fast start to the United States Grand Prix weekend by setting the pace in the only practice session before Sprint Qualifying later on Friday night.
A day after Norris unexpectedly revealed he faced unspecified “repercussions” from McLaren for colliding with team-mate and title rival Oscar Piastri on the opening lap of the last race in Singapore, the F1 title fight resumed at the Circuit of the Americas with the only hour of practice running during the season’s fourth Sprint weekend.
Norris ended up fastest with a best lap set late in the session on the soft tyres of 1:33.294.
Amid what appeared major track evolution in the closing stages, Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg leapt up to second place in the final moments of running to finish 0.255s behind Norris.
Piastri, who leads Norris by 22 points in the Drivers’ Championship, was 0.279s back in third with Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso fourth and in-form Max Verstappen fifth for Red Bull.
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Sky Sports F1’s Martin Brundle believes McLaren’s attempts to subject Norris to ‘repercussions’ will ultimately have negative consequences
Singapore GP victor George Russell, who finally signed his new Mercedes contract this week, and Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton only ran the medium tyres and were seventh and eighth respectively.
But Charles Leclerc missed the session’s final minutes in the second Ferrari after abandoning his run amid gear shift issues and the smell of burning oil.
More to follow…
Sky Sports F1’s live United States GP schedule
Friday October 17
8.30pm: Team Principals’ Press Conference
10pm: United States GP Sprint Qualifying (qualifying starts at 10.30pm*)
Saturday October 18
5pm: United States GP Sprint build-up
6pm: UNITED STATES GP SPRINT
7pm: Ted’s Sprint Notebook
9pm: United States GP Qualifying build-up*
10pm: UNITED STATES GP QUALIFYING*
12am (Sunday morning): Ted’s Qualifying Notebook*
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Look back at some of the most dramatic moments to have taken place at the United States Grand Prix
Sunday October 19
6.30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: United States GP build-up*
8pm: THE UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX*
10pm: Chequered Flag: United States GP reaction
11pm: Ted’s Notebook
*also live on Sky Sports Main Event
Formula 1 are in North America for the United States Grand Prix in Austin this weekend, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime
