Marko Hanželic
Qualifications c Austin started in similar weather as we experienced at yesterday’s second free practice, which means the air temperature at 30 degrees Celsius and ten degrees Celsius higher asphalt temperature. Before the start of the qualifications, there was a lot going on, especially in the garage Red Bull Racing, where they were fixing a problem with the rear wing on a Verstappn race car after noticing a crack on it in the third free practice.
Q1 - Lance Stroll stuck again in the first part of qualifying
After a few initial attempts, they signed up for the spreadsheet Schumacher, Stroll in Leclerc, both racers were the first to drop below the 1:35 mark Red Bull, separated by only five hundredths of a second. In the first attempt, the time was deleted Mazepin, who has not yet formed a regular lap in the entire racing weekend, and at the same time got involved with Vettel, for which he was not eventually punished.
No progress was made after the last attempt in Q1 Stroll, Latifi, Räikkönen, Schumacher in Mazepin. Antonio Giovinazzi managed to overtake the Canadian in Aston Martin by only 63 thousandths of a second, and salt to the wound for Aston Martin was added by the fact that if Hag would not perform in Q1 (German gets a penalty for changing engine), would Stroll nevertheless progressed in Q2.
He achieved the best time in the first part of the qualifications Charles Leclerc, who ended up two tenths faster than Max Verstappn and Sergio Perez. They both followed McLaren. Both Mercedes started reserved (Bottas in sixth, Hamilton in seventh).
Q2 - Tsunoda managed to get among the top ten fastest
The second part of the qualifications was mainly marked by the tires used. The vast majority of racers, including both leaders in the championship, started on mid-range tires. Mercedes has apparently found speed in Q2 since the two Bottas in Hamilton she soon swung to the top, and overtook her by three tenths Verstappen. Perez they deleted the time in the first, as it was in turn no. 9 too wide, similar happened Ricciard.
Alonso, Vettel in Russell due to the penalties, they did not show excessive will to appear in Q1, as this would mean that they are limited in the choice of tires, and in addition to the mentioned three, they also dropped out. Or with in Giovinazzi, because they are Perez in Ricciardo managed to catch a ten in the second. He also found himself in it after a long time Yuki tsunoda.
Q3 - The first pole position in Austin since 2014 that did not belong to Mercedes
After the first attempt of the third part, we saw a double lead Red Bull Racing, but in a surprising sequence, since Sergio Perez smiled his first pole position in his career. We also saw an inverted picture at Mercedes, but it could be assumed that in the second attempt Bottas due to engine replacement it will not go upside down.
The second attempt brought reaffirmation of why they are fighting for the title Hamilton in Verstappen. He is British with an excellent middle part Perez's time improved by an additional tenth, and all together he improved by two tenths Dutchman, which will start tomorrow from the first starting position. Hamilton will thus start from the first starting row, Perez as the third, today fourth-placed Bottas however, he will start tomorrow from the ninth starting position.
US GP, qualifications - results:
