F1 US Grand Prix LIVE: Sprint qualifying schedule and practice results in Austin
F1 live updates from the Circuit of the Americas as Lando Norris looks to close the gap to Max Verstappen
F1 returns after a four-week break with the US Grand Prix in Austin and the fourth sprint weekend of the 2024 season.
Lando Norris won last time out in Singapore to cut Max Verstappen’s lead in the drivers’ championship to 52 points with six rounds to go.
Oscar Piastri, Norris’ teammate at McLaren, finished third in the city-state while the Mercedes duo of Lewis Hamilton and George Russell will be looking to finish their time together on a high before Hamilton heads to Ferrari next year.
Verstappen has won the last three editions of the US Grand Prix and was also victorious in the Austin sprint race last year. It will also be the first race for Liam Lawson this year, with the New Zealander replacing Daniel Ricciardo for the remainder of the season.
Follow live updates from the United States Grand Prix with The Independent
F1 US Grand Prix LIVE: Lando Norris only fourth-fastest!
Norris’ car, covered in flow-vis paint, can only go fourth-fastest - but it would have been cancelled in qualifying as he went off the track!
Top of the timesheet? Carlos Sainz with a 1:33:602, 0.021 secs quicker than Charles Leclerc - a Ferrari one-two!
Max Verstappen is third, 0.013 secs quicker than Norris in fourth, with Oscar Piastri in fifth.
6-10: Hamilton, Russell, Magnussen, Alonso, Tsunoda
Advantage Ferrari heading into sprint qualifying later!
What is a sprint race in F1 and how does qualifying shootout work?
The sprint format continues in Formula 1 this weekend as the US Grand Prix hosts the fourth sprint weekend of the 2024 season.
The sprint was first introduced in 2021 at Silverstone as a way of making more sessions over the course of the weekend competitive, with the target of driving interest in F1. In 2021 and 2022, there were three sprints a year.
2023 saw a new format. The number of sprint races were doubled to six, while Saturday was designed ‘sprint day’ - with a new “sprint shootout” qualifying session determining the grid for the sprint race. In addition, the result of the sprint race had no baring on the grand prix on Sunday.
However, the format has been tweaked again in 2024 and we will see it in action for the fourth time this weekend at the Circuit of the Americas:
What is a sprint race in F1 and how does qualifying work?
The fourth Formula 1 sprint event in 2024 takes place this weekend at the US Grand Prix
Sebastian Vettel announces racing return in ‘super team’ alongside axed F1 star
Sebastian Vettel will return to racing next year at the 2025 Race of Champions in Sydney, teaming up with compatriot and friend Mick Schumacher.
Four-time F1 world champion Vettel retired in 2022 after 16 seasons in the sport, where he raced for the likes of Red Bull, Ferrari and Aston Martin.
Yet next March at the Accor Stadium in Sydney, Vettel will form a German ‘super team’ alongside Schumacher – son of seven-time F1 world champion Michael Schumacher – in the ROC Nations Cup.
More below:
Sebastian Vettel announces racing return in ‘super team’ alongside axed F1 star
The four-time F1 world champion retired in 2022 but will reform a German partnership next March
Constructors’ Championship ahead of the US Grand Prix:
1. McLaren - 516 points
2. Red Bull - 475 points
3. Ferrari - 441 points
4. Mercedes - 329 points
5. Aston Martin - 86 points
6. RB - 34 points
7. Haas - 31 points
8. Williams - 16 points
9. Alpine - 13 points
10. Sauber - 0 points
RACE PREVIEW: How Donald Trump and Kamala Harris revealed F1’s true value as US presidential race nears finish line
For a sport which struggled for the best part of 70 years to find a home across the Atlantic, Formula One’s presence in the United States has reached unprecedented heights this year. And that’s not just a nod to the three US races, in Miami, Austin and Las Vegas, nor to the boom in popularity stateside – a result of Liberty Media’s 2017 takeover and Netflix’s Drive to Survive fever.
Rather it has been, ahead of the highly charged US presidential election on 5 November, the surprising arena for the two nominees to appear, promote and present themselves in a unique and increasingly attractive way to the electorate.
Full piece below:
How Trump and Harris revealed F1’s true value amid US presidential race
As F1 returns this weekend at the United States Grand Prix in Austin, both presidential nominees have used the sport to promote themselves ahead of election day – but what does it actually mean? Kieran Jackson takes a look
A reminder of the start times this weekend in Austin:
All times BST
Friday 18 October
- Sprint qualifying: 10:30pm
Saturday 19 October
- Sprint race: 7pm
- Qualifying: 11pm
Sunday 20 October
- Race: 8pm
Red Bull ‘cannot afford’ F1 driver disparity as pressure grows on Sergio Perez
Red Bull boss Christian Horner admits his team “need answers” to their driver line-up dilemma as the pressure grows on Sergio Perez.
Mexican driver Perez trails teammate and championship leader Max Verstappen by 187 points after 18 races this year and has not won a grand prix since April 2023.
Perez has a contract with Red Bull until the end of 2025 – with an option to extend for 2026 – but Liam Lawson’s promotion to sister team RB for this weekend’s US Grand Prix indicates that Red Bull are assessing their options ahead of next year.
Having relinquished their spot at the top of the constructors’ standings to McLaren, Red Bull boss Horner acknowledges that his team “can’t afford a big gap” between Verstappen and his team-mate next year.
Full quotes below:
Red Bull ‘cannot afford’ F1 driver disparity as pressure grows on Sergio Perez
Max Verstappen leads his Red Bull teammate Perez by 187 points after 18 races this season
F1 US Grand Prix LIVE: Oscar Piastri almost crashes!
Piastri went into the pit lane way too hot and had to drastically stay on track to avoid the wall!
At the top, with all the runners now on softs, Carlos Sainz has toppled Max Verstappen for first place - with Fernando Alonso a surprise name in third!
Lando Norris? Yet to set a time on softs. Five minutes to go!
F1 US Grand Prix LIVE: Max Verstappen still P1
The championship leader still top with a 1:33:855, 0.783 secs quicker than Sergio Perez in second.
The rest of them? Still not on softs!
3-10: Sainz, Leclerc, Russell, Norris, Alonso, Bottas, Lawson, Tsunoda
10 mins to go!
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