Lando Norris Sets the Pace in United States Grand Prix Practice
Lando Norris demonstrated his potential by leading the practice session of the United States Grand Prix, setting a challenge for his teammate, Oscar Piastri.
Norris arrives in Austin with a 22-point disadvantage compared to Piastri in the standings.
The British driver faces unspecified “repercussions” from his team, McLaren, after being held responsible for contact with Piastri on the first lap of the Singapore Grand Prix.
It is understood that these consequences will be sporting and Norris suggested that they could affect him for the rest of the season.
McLaren CEO Zak Brown called Norris’ indiscretion “minor” and stated that the consequences would be proportionate, adding that their only rule is not to touch each other.McLaren’s Lando Norris marcó el ritmo en la primera práctica del Gran Premio de Estados Unidos.His goal of surpassing Piastri and securing the drivers’ championship, after having finished ahead of his teammate in the last three races, began strongly in the only practice session of the weekend.
Norris finished the session 0.279 seconds ahead of Piastri, who finished in third place. Nico Hülkenberg, from Sauber, achieved an impressive second place, followed by Fernando Alonso in fourth place.
Max Verstappen, who is shaping up to be a title contender, is 63 points behind Piastri before the weekend. Verstappen was fifth, more than three tenths of a second behind.
There are 33 points at stake over the weekend in Austin, with Saturday’s sprint race followed by Sunday’s main race.
Lewis Hamilton, five-time winner at the Circuit of the Americas, had a good initial session and was more than half a second ahead of the rest of the group in the first runs on hard tires. However, once the soft tires were fitted, he dropped down the order in his Ferrari, finishing the session in eighth place.
The qualifying for the sprint race will start at 16:30 local time (22:30 BST).
