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 before the competitive sessions begin on the season’s fourth Sprint weekend.
And it was Norris who ended up fastest with a best lap set late in the session on the soft tyres of 1:33.294.
“It’s a tiny victory for practice and it gives you a little bit of confidence for Sprint Qualifying,” said Sky Sports F1’s Jenson Button.
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 a gearbox issues and the smell of burning oil from the car.
Williams’ Carlos Sainz completed even fewer laps, nine, after gearbox trouble stopped his session early on.
Alex Albon did show early encouragement for the team in the other Williams car by finishing sixth fastest, with Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar and Haas’ Oliver Bearman also making the top 10.
Brown: Norris repercussions will have ‘sporting’ impact – but are marginal
Meanwhile, with all the focus having been on McLaren in the build-up to practice after Norris’ revelation on Thursday, chief executive Zak Brown shed a little more light on the ‘repercussions’ the Briton faces – although the exact sanction remains unknown.
“A little bit of a sporting repercussion in lieu of what happened. We move forward,” Brown told Sky Sports F1 during the session from the McLaren pit wall.
“The drivers are comfortable, they are free to race and we are looking forward to a big race weekend.”
And on the scale of the repercussion being imposed, Brown added: “It’s very marginal. It probably won’t be noticed. Lando and Oscar know what it is, which is what’s most important.”
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