Lando Norris set the early pace at the United States Grand Prix on Friday, leading McLaren team-mate and title rival Oscar Piastri in a competitive opening practice session at the Circuit of the Americas.
Norris, who trails Piastri by 22 points in the championship standings with six races remaining, produced a best lap that put him 0.279 seconds clear of his Australian teammate. The Briton’s performance marked a strong start to the sprint weekend in Austin, with the McLarens once again setting the benchmark in both one-lap speed and race pace.
In an intriguing twist to the order, Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg split the two McLarens to take second place on the timesheets, delivering one of his team’s most competitive sessions of the season. The German’s performance added a surprise element to the field and hinted at a potentially tighter midfield battle across the weekend.
Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso was fourth fastest, continuing his recent run of form and edging ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who settled for fifth. The reigning world champion struggled to find balance early in the session and spent much of it focusing on long-run pace rather than headline times.
Williams’ Alex Albon impressed once again in sixth, showing pace that suggests the team could be in contention for points in both the sprint and Sunday’s race.
Mercedes endured another mixed outing. George Russell ended the session seventh, notably as the first driver to set his fastest time on the medium tyres, while Lewis Hamilton could only manage eighth after a scrappy run. Both drivers reported balance issues in the W15 and appeared to be holding something back ahead of sprint qualifying later in the evening.
Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar continued to impress in his reserve outing, finishing ninth ahead of Haas’s young British driver Oliver Bearman, who rounded out the top 10 in another composed performance.
The session ran relatively smoothly, with no major incidents. However, Ferrari endured a frustrating afternoon as both Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc encountered gearbox problems, forcing them to spend significant time in the garage. The issues come as a concern for the team, which has struggled for reliability and consistency in recent weeks.
The focus now turns to sprint qualifying at 22:30 BST, the only opportunity for teams to fine-tune their cars before competitive action begins. With just one practice session on the schedule, any setup misstep could have significant consequences for the rest of the weekend.
Away from the track, McLaren confirmed that Norris will face “consequences” for his collision with Piastri during the Singapore Grand Prix last month. The pair made contact at Turn Three on the opening lap while Norris was attempting to pass, but both drivers recovered to finish the race.
McLaren have not disclosed the exact nature of the penalty but described it as “sporting” and “relatively minor,” indicating that team harmony remains intact as the title battle intensifies.
Meanwhile, off-track developments dominated headlines as Apple secured the U.S. broadcasting rights for Formula 1 in a landmark $750 million deal. The multi-year agreement is expected to expand F1’s reach in North America and enhance coverage through Apple’s streaming platforms.
With temperatures high and grip levels fluctuating at the Austin circuit, tyre management will play a key role across the sprint weekend. Teams are expected to focus heavily on balancing performance and durability, especially given the limited track time before Sunday’s main race.
The United States Grand Prix weekend runs from 17–19 October, with the main race scheduled for 20:00 BST on Sunday. Fans can follow live commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live, Sports Extra, and through live text updates on the BBC Sport website and app.
