Charles Leclerc surged to pole position at the United States Grand Prix, breaking Max Verstappen’s streak of pole starts. The Monegasque driver delivered a flawless lap in qualifying, while Verstappen had a best lap cancelled and will start sixth on Sunday. Carlos Sainz secured a solid fourth, and Fernando Alonso faced a tough afternoon, failing to move past the first round of qualifying after a busy third quarter session earlier in the year. The session highlighted Ferrari’s strong pace in Texas and set the stage for an intriguing race day in Austin.
Relating to
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Verstappen rules in free practice in Austin and Alonso starts with problems
Verstappen rules in free practice in Austin and Alonso starts with problems
The practice run was held under extreme conditions, with the track reaching 42 degrees and the surface proving highly bumpy on the Inter-American Circuit. Haas showed notable improvement on the Texas layout, with Magnussen among the top five and Hulkenberg briefly ahead of Verstappen at the start of the first section. The session underscored how teams manage heat, tyres, and setup on a demanding circuit that rewards precision and balance.
Directly for Charles Leclerc, Verstappen faced a setback as a planned lap was erased. Behind Leclerc, Norris, Hamilton, Sainz, and Russell lined up, with Verstappen left to chase in the background. The moment captured the competitive tension on the grid as the session concluded.
[World Championship standings and moments from practice]
During the opening of the session, Carlos Sainz posted a best first-lap time of 1:35.824, placing him two tenths behind Leclerc. Verstappen answered on his second run by shaving nearly half a second off, but Hamilton did not give up, posting a faster time and pushing Verstappen harder than in recent weeks. Norris also showed strong pace, edging ahead of Verstappen in parts of the session.
Alonso met an uphill battle, as he faced elimination in the first qualifying stage for the first time this year. Hulkenberg, Albon, Sargeant, and Stroll also found it difficult to advance, signaling a rough day for Aston Martin and a wider challenge for the midfield pack. It was clear that teams had to balance aggressive setups with reliability to survive the first rounds of the session.
“Tsunoda could be more careful” was the radio chatter from Sainz as teams communicated strategy and caution on a track demanding precision. The exchange highlighted the pressure and the split-second decisions drivers make when pushing for pole under intense conditions. [citation: DAZN Spain reports]
The second quarter saw Ferrari finding stronger rhythm, with Leclerc leading on a lap that clocked 1:35.004. Verstappen was just four thousandths behind, while Hamilton moved into third ahead of Sainz. Tsunoda, Zhou, Bottas, Magnussen, and Ricciardo did not reach the decisive second format, struggling to string together a clean lap when the stakes were highest. The session underlined how fine margins decide the top spots—with many drivers on the cusp of progression but ultimately unable to advance.
The pole fight took an unexpected turn as Leclerc demonstrated speed across all sectors, forcing Verstappen to push to the limit in an effort to overhaul the Monegasque. The results of the first two rounds showed Leclerc with an early edge that Verstappen fought to erase, signaling an exciting battle for Sunday’s race.
Leclerc set provisional pole with a lap of 1:34.829, two tenths quicker than Verstappen, while Hamilton joined the battle and claimed second place ahead of Sainz. The early performance hints at a close race as teams head into the final preparations for race day, with the Ferraris showing strong pace but the Red Bulls ready to respond under the lights of the circuit in the American capital of motorsport life.
[Season calendar notes and results referenced from race archives]
In the subsequent round of runs, Leclerc improved again, dipping to 1:34.723, and Verstappen posted a stronger lap at 1:34.718, but a track limit infraction wiped the Dutch driver’s time and he dropped to sixth. Ferrari clinched pole for the second year in a row, with Leclerc opening the Sunday grid ahead of Norris, Hamilton, and Sainz. The field remains tightly packed, and the anticipation for Sunday’s showdown is high.
Aston Martin’s day ends in disappointment
Both Aston Martins were eliminated in the first quarter, marking a rare poor showing for the team. Alonso and Stroll faced a difficult session, with Alonso finishing 18th and Stroll’s day cut short by tire or electrical concerns mid-session. This result adds pressure on the squad as they seek to regain form in the remaining races of the season.
Aston Martin introduced a major upgrade package for the Austin round, including updates to the floor, headlights, and diffuser. Alonso spoke of the team’s aim to halt the points bleed and stay competitive in a season where rivals like McLaren are closing in on the championship positions. The upgrades aimed to boost performance on the long straights and tight corners of the Texas circuit, delivering a more balanced aero profile and improved cooling. The struggle in practice, however, showed the challenge of translating upgrades into consistent performance on a single day. [citation: team communications and race reports]
Friday’s free practice session included a high-stakes sprint format, and both drivers encountered brake cooling issues early on. A minor fire concern on Alonso’s car drew attention, while Stroll faced more technical drama. The team’s response was measured, with the drivers returning to the track later in the day, attempting to salvage valuable data ahead of qualifying. The narrative from the session underscored how quickly fortunes can change in a single weekend at a demanding venue like Austin, where every piece of data matters for setup and strategy.