Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc on pole for United States Grand Prix, third for F1 season
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Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc receives the pole position award on pit lane after the qualifying session for the United States Grand Prix.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
AUSTIN – Charles Leclerc is loving the vibe as he claimed his third pole position of the Formula One season on Friday, while Red Bull’s Max Verstappen had his best lap deleted and slipped to sixth on the grid in a dramatic qualifying session for the weekend’s United States Grand Prix.
The Ferrari driver showed commanding pace on Friday as he clocked the fastest lap of 1min 34.723sec to outpace McLaren’s Lando Norris by a 10th, with the resurgent seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes taking third.
Carlos Sainz was fourth in the second Ferrari ahead of George Russell in the second Mercedes.
Verstappen’s late best lap was quick enough for pole, but was rubbed out after he exceeded track limits at Turn 19.
It was the 21st pole position of Leclerc’s career and gives him a chance of frustrating newly crowned three-time champion Verstappen’s bid for a 50th career victory in Sunday’s race.
“I am very happy with my qualifying and to take pole position,” said the Monegasque.
“It was a really good lap and the team did a great job. We had a very clean FP1, which is so important on these sprint weekends.
“I love this track, the vibe there is around this track in the city and in the country so it’s great to be here.”
Norris described his front-row start as a “bonus for the team”.
The Briton said: “I think I was quick enough to get pole position. I know Charles said he made a few mistakes, but so did I!
“And anyway, I am happy with second nevertheless.”
Hamilton, who relished the performance of his car’s upgrades, said: “I love being here at this circuit and I love the country. This is such a challenging circuit and one of my favourites, up there with Silverstone.
“We’ve taken a step closer to these guys this weekend, thanks to everyone in the factory who have been pushing so hard. I will give it my best shot tomorrow.”
Behind a grumbling Verstappen, who complained on the team radio, the Alpines of Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon were seventh and eighth – ahead of Sergio Perez in the second Red Bull and Oscar Piastri in the second McLaren.
Qualifying was held on Friday after one practice session because Saturday was devoted to a stand-alone points-scoring 100km sprint, the fifth of six on the calendar this season.
The session began in glorious sunshine with a track temperature of 42 deg C and the air at 35, conditions to challenge tyres and cars at the Circuit of the Americas.
At the bottom end, it was bad news for Aston Martin, despite an upgrade package, as both two-time champion Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll failed to make the cut.
Alonso was 17th and eliminated from Q1 for the first time in 2023, along with Haas’ Nico Hulkenberg, Stroll in 19th, and the Williams pair of Alex Albon and Logan Sargeant. AFP, REUTERS
