US Grand Prix FP1: Norris Leads, Hulkenberg Surprises in Austin

Lando Norris and McLaren dominated the lone practice session for the US Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas, with Norris setting the fastest time by a quarter-second. The session also saw a surprising performance from Nico Hulkenberg, who placed his Sauber in second, while several teams faced early challenges.

Why it matters:

• With only one practice session available this weekend, FP1 was crucial for teams to gather data and fine-tune setups for both qualifying and the race. McLaren's strong start indicates their potential competitiveness, while Sauber's unexpected pace could be a sign of improvement or a track-specific advantage.

The details:

• Early Hard Tyre Runs: The session began with most teams on hard tyres (C1 compound) to understand track conditions, with Max Verstappen initially leading for Red Bull.
• Hamilton's Early Pace: Lewis Hamilton briefly topped the charts with a 1:34.857 on hard tyres, despite throttle pedal issues, just before a red flag.
• Red Flag Interruption: A five-minute red flag was deployed due to debris at Turn 19, reportedly from Lance Stroll's Aston Martin. McLaren used this break for suspension adjustments on Norris's car.
• Sainz's Gearbox Issue: Carlos Sainz's session was cut short after just eight laps due to a gearbox problem with his Williams, ruling him out for the remainder of FP1.
• Ocon's Brake Troubles: Esteban Ocon experienced significant brake issues, locking up at Turn 11 and going into the gravel.
• Qualifying Simulation Runs: In the final 15 minutes, teams switched to medium (C3) and soft (C4) tyres for performance runs. George Russell initially led on mediums, followed by Yuki Tsunoda on softs.
• Verstappen's Soft Tyre Pace: Max Verstappen then set a commanding 1:33.648 on softs, nearly nine-tenths faster than Tsunoda, briefly establishing a Red Bull 1-2.
• Norris and Hulkenberg's Breakthrough: Lando Norris ultimately set the fastest time with a 1:33.294 on softs, despite a potential track limits infringement. Nico Hulkenberg then sensationally placed his Sauber in second, just 0.255 seconds behind Norris, ahead of Oscar Piastri in third.
• Leclerc's Technical Issue: Charles Leclerc ended up last after encountering a late technical issue, preventing him from completing a performance run.

By the numbers:

• 1st Place: Lando Norris (McLaren) - 1:33.294 (Softs)
• 2nd Place: Nico Hulkenberg (Kick Sauber) - +0.255 (Softs)
• 3rd Place: Oscar Piastri (McLaren) - +0.279 (Softs)
• Top Speed: Details on top speeds are not explicitly provided, but the lap times suggest strong performance from McLaren and Sauber on the soft compound.

What's next:

With FP1 completed, the focus now shifts to the competitive sessions. Norris's strong showing positions McLaren well for qualifying, but the surprise pace from Hulkenberg and Sauber suggests a potentially unpredictable weekend. Teams will be analyzing the limited data from this single practice session to finalize their setups before qualifying.