F1 US GP: Lando Norris Leads Only Practice, Leclerc Faces Mechanical Issues

Lando Norris of McLaren topped the sole practice session at the United States Grand Prix, with Sauber's Nico Hulkenberg surprisingly splitting Norris from his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, meanwhile, encountered significant mechanical troubles, cutting short his session.

Why it matters:

As F1's latest sprint weekend unfolds in Austin, Friday's FP1 was the only opportunity for teams to fine-tune their cars before sprint qualifying. This singular session becomes critical for setting up the car, impacting performance across both sprint and main race events. For teams like Ferrari, mechanical setbacks in this crucial session could prove costly, jeopardizing their weekend performance.

The details:

• The 60-minute FP1 session at Circuit of the Americas was action-packed, with all 20 cars on track early, primarily on hard tires.
• Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) initially led, posting a 1m34.857s, 0.569s clear of Max Verstappen (Red Bull).
• The session was red-flagged for five minutes after 21 minutes due to debris from Lance Stroll's Aston Martin.
• Later in the session, teams switched to softer compounds; Hamilton, Leclerc, and George Russell (Mercedes) on mediums, while Red Bull and McLaren opted for softs.
• Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) briefly took the top spot with a 1m33.639s on softs, edging out Verstappen by 0.009s.
• Norris's Dominance: Lando Norris then set a 1m33.294s lap on softs, securing the top position that remained unchallenged.
• Oscar Piastri improved late to jump to third, just under three-tenths behind Norris.
• Hulkenberg's Surprise: Nico Hulkenberg of Sauber unexpectedly split the McLarens, setting his flyer in the dying seconds, showcasing the rapidly improving track surface.
• Ferrari's Woes: Charles Leclerc's session was cut short due to gear issues and an oil smell, while Carlos Sainz (Williams) was also limited to just nine laps due to a gearbox problem.

The big picture:

McLaren's strong showing in the only practice session signals their potential competitiveness for the US GP sprint weekend. The varied tire strategies and the quickly evolving track conditions highlight the challenge teams face in optimizing their setup under sprint format pressures. Ferrari's mechanical issues for both drivers are a major concern, potentially derailing their entire weekend and adding pressure to an already challenging season.

What's next:

Teams will now move directly into sprint qualifying, where these practice findings will be immediately put to the test. Ferrari will be under immense pressure to resolve their mechanical woes quickly to avoid a difficult qualifying session. The performance gap between Norris and the rest of the field, especially given Hulkenberg's strong run, suggests an unpredictable sprint qualifying session ahead.