U.S. Grand Prix - Free Practice: Ferrari on the front row, Verstappen confirms, Mercedes in trouble

Formula 1 is back in Austin after a long four-week break for the only free practice session of the weekend. This crucial session will allow the different teams to make the right adjustments to their cars ahead of the sprint qualifying.

A clear lack of grip on the track

This session, mainly carried out with hard tires, did not go without a hitch. Many drivers made driving mistakes, resulting in several off-track excursions that added suspense to this first day of testing.

The track, lacking grip, revealed its complexity, especially at the first turn, where the drivers had to be extra careful. This lack of grip was accentuated by the recent resurfacing of the asphalt, making the task even more difficult for the teams trying to find the right balance for their cars.

Mercedes: Hamilton and Russell in difficulty

Lewis Hamilton had a complicated session, marked by several mistakes that led to an impressive spin at turn 4. Although this incident raised concerns, it fortunately had no consequences for the Briton. He finishes sixth.

His teammate George Russell also expressed concerns about the stability of his car in the same sector. Almost facing the incident himself, Russell felt vibrations and a loss of control. Just behind Hamilton at the finish line, Hamilton's compatriot also struggled to find the ideal trajectory on this reworked track.

The two drivers will have to work with their engineers to adjust their settings and improve the performance of their cars before the next sessions.

Verstappen in form, Pérez trailing

After finding his pace in Singapore, Max Verstappen confirms during this testing session. He set good lap times, signing several times the best laps and finishes third in this testing session. The pace displayed by the Dutchman suggests good performances for the rest of the weekend.

Ranked sixteenth at the finish, the Mexican does not seem to have found any solutions to improve his performances. After a disappointing Singapore Grand Prix, history seems to be repeating itself for him.

Ferrari: a move to make

Ferrari has had a convincing session, giving a glimpse of promising prospects for the rest of the weekend. Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc are in first and second place respectively and have shown good control of their car as well as a good understanding of its settings.

By displaying a solid pace, the Italian team monopolizes the front row, showing that it is ready to compete with the leaders.

The result of Free Practice

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