The Circuit of The Americas welcomed F1 back to Texas with a sprint weekend that delivered unexpected pace from surprising quarters and a thrilling qualifying shootout. From Nico Hulkenberg’s shock speed to Max Verstappen’s late heroics, day one showcased the unpredictable nature of Austin’s challenging layout. What unfolded during the opening practice and Sprint Qualifying sessions? Stay tuned with Supercars.com.GH to find out!
FP1
Lando Norris topped the only practice session of the weekend with a commanding 1:33.294, but the real story was Nico Hulkenberg’s stunning second place for Kick Sauber, just 0.255s behind. The German driver’s impressive pace suggested the Swiss team had found something special for the high-speed COTA layout.
Carlos Sainz’s session was compromised early when Williams called him back to the pits citing a potential gearbox issue, leaving the Spaniard watching from the garage as mechanics investigated. Charles Leclerc also suffered problems, reporting an “oil smell” before heading to the pits, ultimately finishing last in the classification.
Lance Stroll triggered the session’s only red flag when he ran wide at Turn 19, scattering debris across the track. The stoppage came with around 40 minutes remaining, forcing a brief pause before action resumed with Lewis Hamilton leading the timesheets.
Oscar Piastri secured third for McLaren, 0.279s behind teammate Norris, while Fernando Alonso impressed by claiming fourth for Aston Martin. Max Verstappen rounded out the top five, with the limited practice time leaving teams scrambling to find optimal setups before Sprint Qualifying.
Sprint Qualifying
Max Verstappen produced a stunning final lap to snatch Sprint pole position with a 1:32.143, denying Lando Norris by just 0.071 seconds in a thrilling SQ3 shootout. The Dutchman’s last-gasp heroics ended Norris’s dominance after the Briton had topped both SQ1 and SQ2.
Hulkenberg continued his impressive day by claiming fourth on the Sprint grid, his best qualifying position since his British Grand Prix podium in July. The German driver’s pace validated Kick Sauber’s strong FP1 showing and suggested a competitive Saturday afternoon awaited.
SQ1 featured chaotic scenes as multiple drivers failed to cross the line in time for final flying laps. Gabriel Bortoleto suffered worst, not recording any time after his first effort was deleted for track limits. Yuki Tsunoda, Ollie Bearman, and Esteban Ocon also failed to reach the line, eliminating them from contention.
Kimi Antonelli’s weekend hit a setback when he missed SQ3 by just 0.006 seconds, finishing 11th in heartbreaking fashion just days after his 2026 Mercedes confirmation. The Italian rookie’s narrow elimination highlighted the incredibly tight midfield battle.
Ferrari endured a difficult session with Lewis Hamilton eighth and Charles Leclerc tenth, both drivers struggling to extract pace from their SF-25. The Scuderia’s troubles suggested a challenging Sprint race ahead at a circuit where they had hoped to be competitive.
Can Verstappen convert his Sprint pole into victory against the charging McLarens? Join Supercars.com.GH tomorrow to find out!