Watch qualifying for Sunday’s Grand Prix tonight at 10pm on Sky Sports F1 ahead of the sprint Saturday in Austin
By James Galloway
Last updated: 10/20/23 7:46 PM
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Oscar Piastri narrowly avoided the barrier in Practice 1 after losing control of the McLaren at the United States Grand Prix
Oscar Piastri narrowly avoided the barrier in Practice 1 after losing control of the McLaren at the United States Grand Prix
Max Verstappen set the pace for Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in the only practice session before Friday’s qualifying for the United States GP, but Lewis Hamilton also gave Mercedes early encouragement for the weekend in their upgraded car.
At the start of the fifth sprint weekend of 2023 out of six, Verstappen set the initial pace on the vast Circuit of Americas with a best lap of 1:35.912.
Leclerc was 0.156 seconds behind Ferrari with Hamilton a tenth of a second behind in third, but it would have been better for the latter if the seven-time champion had not dropped time in the final sector of the lap by running wide in turn 12 and then lose time behind a McLaren.
Mercedes have fitted a new floor to their car for the first time in what they have confirmed is their last “major” upgrade this season.
Sergio Perez, increasingly in need of a strong weekend amid speculation about his future, finished fourth in the second Red Bull.
American Haas, meanwhile, achieved an encouraging fifth and ninth place, with their car receiving a rare, major upgrade at their home event this weekend.
Daniel Ricciardo was back on track for AlphaTauri for the first time in two months after recovering from a broken bone in his left hand. The Australian made a solid return in 14th place, completing 23 laps in the hour-long session without any visible problems.
More to follow…
When can you watch the US GP and F1 Academy Final live only on Sky Sports F1?
Friday
- 7.55pm: F1 Academy practice two
- 9 p.m.: Build-up of qualifying for the American GP
- 10 p.m.: Qualifying for the American GP (also on Sky Sports Main Event)
- 11.30pm: F1 Academy qualifying
- (Saturday) 12:30: Ted’s Qualification Notebook
Saturday
- 3.30pm: F1 Academy Race One
- 6 p.m.: build-up of the American GP Sprint Shootout
- 6:30 PM: American GP Sprint Shootout
- 9.15pm: F1 Academy Race Two
- 10 p.m.: build-up of the American GP Sprint
- 11 p.m.: American GP SPRINT (also on Sky Sports Main Event)
- (Sunday) 12:30 PM: Ted’s Sprint Notebook
Sunday
- 3.30pm: F1 Academy Race Three
- 6:30 PM: Grand Prix Sunday: build-up to the American GP
- 8 p.m.: THE GRAND PRIZE OF THE UNITED STATES (also on Sky Sports Main Event)
- 10 p.m.: Checkered flag: response from the American GP
- 11pm: Ted’s notebook
Watch Formula 1 return to Texas this weekend for the United States Grand Prix and another sprint weekend live on Sky Sports F1 Stream F1 on Sky Sports with NOW