Young drivers got an opportunity to shine in a Pirelli tire test.
AUSTIN, Texas—Charles Leclerc put his Ferrari at the top of the timesheets by clocking a 1:36:810 fastest time at the Circuit of the Americas Friday afternoon in preparation for Sunday’s United States Grand Prix. Alfa Romeo’s Valtteri Bottas and McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo took second and third, respectively.
Leclerc’s Ferrari teammate, Carlos Sainz, ended up fourth overall, but he had the quickest time in the first session. Mick Schumacher, who is negotiating for another season with Haas, finished in fifth. The second McLaren, driven by Lando Norris, took sixth and put even more of a challenge with their fourth-place Constructor’s battle with Alpine, who had a disappointing day, placing Esteban Ocon in 16th and Fernando Alonso 17th.
Max Verstappen, who just a couple of weeks ago won his second consecutive world title in Japan, ended his afternoon session early with a broken car, which took the rest of the day to repair.
The young drivers got their feet wet, but it was a bad beginning for Ferrari reserve driver Antonio Giovinazzi, who is hunting for a Haas seat. His audition was halted when the Italian ended up in the tecpro barrier just eight minutes from starting. Other newcomers did better. Israeli Robert Schwartzman was 16th in his Ferrari, with McLaren’s Alex Palou 17th. Theo Pourchaire was next in the Alfa Romeo, and American Logan Sargent followed the Frenchman in his Williams.
Saturday’s qualifying round will be televised by ESPNN at 6p. Eastern time. Sunday’s race will be on ABC-TV starting at 3p. Eastern
