(Austin) Monegasque Charles Leclerc has earned the leading position for the United States Formula 1 Grand Prix which will be contested on Sunday in Austin, Texas.
At the wheel of his Ferrari, Leclerc completed a lap of one minute 34, 723 seconds, and he beat Lando Norris, in McLaren, by 13 hundredths of a second.
Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes), will start from the third box on the starting grid, ahead of Carlos Sainz Jr. (Ferrari).
Already assured of a third consecutive drivers’ championship, Dutchman Max Verstappen and his Red Bull will occupy sixth position, behind George Russell (Mercedes).
During his last lap, Verstappen recorded a better time than Leclerc. However, Verstappen rolled off the track during the penultimate turn, an error which caused the lap to be canceled.
The qualifying session was particularly difficult for Aston Martin. Both Fernando Alonso and Quebecer Lance Stroll were unable to make it through the first round. Alonso (1: 36, 268) will start 17e and Stroll (1: 36, 589), 19e.
“Making it to qualifying after just five laps in the first free practice session was definitely going to be a challenge,” said Stroll, in an Aston Martin statement.
“The problem today was that we just didn’t have the rhythm. We were hoping for a little better and so it’s a disappointing result. But it is a good track for racing and it is possible to overtake. So there will be opportunities on Sunday,” added the Quebecer.