Formula 1 | United States, Free: Sainz takes a Ferrari double before the Sprint Qualifying

After a four-week break, Formula 1 returns to Austin this weekend, for the United States Grand Prix. With a Sprint weekend on the program, the drivers will only have an hour of preparation before getting to the heart of the matter, a delicate situation particularly for Liam Lawson, who is making his debut with RB F1.

Red Bull brings a reprofiled engine hood and a revised floor for the occasion. The team also has until the Brazilian GP to comply with all the FIA’s requests regarding its modifiable ride height.

Mercedes has pulled out all the stops in terms of development with a front wing, a front suspension, a floor, sidepods, a hood and vertical fins in front of the sidepods. McLaren brings a special package for Austin with a completely revised front end, as well as modified rear scoops and beam wing.

At Aston Martin F1, the front wing, hood, floor and diffuser are evolving. At Alpine, there is a new floor, an engine cover and a beam wing. RB F1 brings a new floor, Stake brings a front wing, new front and rear suspensions and modified scoops at the rear.

At Haas, there is also a large set of developments with new sidepods, a completely revised floor, modified rear scoops, as well as a new engine hood incorporating new gills. Ferrari and Williams F1 don’t bring anything visible, which doesn’t mean that the teams don’t have anything new.

Max Verstappen set the first benchmark time on hard tires in 1’37″593, ahead of Mercedes F1 drivers Carlos Sainz and Esteban Ocon. Charles Leclerc did better in 1’36″724, while the McLaren F1 drivers finished made a small mistake in their first lap.

Lando Norris then came within 1 thousandth of a second of Leclerc, and Valtteri Bottas took the third provisional time, but with medium tires. Carlos Sainz then took the best time, quickly beaten by Verstappen in 1’35″538.

Pierre Gasly spun while small errors multiplied, notably for Lewis Hamilton and Franco Colapinto. The resurfacing of the circuit requires drivers to get used to it, and the asphalt can still be improved in terms of grip. Hamilton also spun at high speed while overtaking a driver.

Leclerc regained control in 1’34″966 ahead of Sainz and Russell, who got in front of Verstappen. But the Briton also spun with his Mercedes and was worried about a possible engine problem. ‘balance.

Verstappen switched to soft tires mid-session, and the Dutchman set a time of 1’33″855. The three-time world champion was not satisfied because he started his lap on cold tires. Sainz improved but still with his hard tires, which placed him eight tenths behind.

Sergio Pérez took the third fastest time between the Ferrari drivers, also on soft compounds. The drivers also worked on the long stints, since this is the only possibility of preparing for the race before Sunday, but also of studying the longevity of the soft tires in preparation for the Sprint.

The drivers put on the soft tires at the end of the session, and Sainz took the best less than 10 minutes from the end of the session in 1’33″602. Fernando Alonso moved up to third ahead of Hamilton and Pierre Gasly, then Liam Lawson and Alex Albon, who all beat Pérez.

Piastri set the third time, and Leclerc did better by moving up to second, 21 thousandths behind Sainz, while Hamilton took the fifth time. Kevin Magnussen and his evolved Haas placed in sixth position. With a car bathed in Flo-Vis, Norris set the fourth fastest time.

It is therefore a Ferrari double which concludes this only free practice session of the United States GP, with Sainz ahead of Leclerc. Verstappen is third ahead of the McLarens of Norris and Piastri. Lawson finished 13th in the session for his return.