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Formula 1
United States GP
F1 United States GP Live Commentary and Updates - FP3 & Qualifying
Saturday's F1 action from the Circuit of the Americas ahead of the US GP
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The 2022 F1 world title might be decided after Max Verstappen clinched the drivers’ crown in Japan last time out, but there’s still plenty at stake and many talking points both off and on the track.
Red Bull can clinch the F1 world constructors’ title at the Circuit of the Americas if it outscores Ferrari by 19 points this weekend, while the team is under the spotlight following its breach of the F1 cost cap and what potential penalties, if any, could follow.
Elsewhere, Charles Leclerc and Sergio Perez will battle for the runner-up spot in the drivers’ standings, with just a point separating the pair with four races to go.
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Here we are, Albon and both AlphaTauris nip out a minute into the session.
Lights green
Q2 is go, by the way, but you wouldn't know it with no early takers.
Breaking news
In the pause before Q2, here's Red Bull F1 team boss Horner's tribute to "inspirational" Red Bull founder Mateschitz:
https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/horner-pays-tribute-to-inspirational-red-bull-founder-mateschitz/10388648/
https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/horner-pays-tribute-to-inspirational-red-bull-founder-mateschitz/10388648/
Hamilton had his fastest lap time deleted late on in Q1 for tripping over track limits at Turn 19, but it means little as he stays fourth overall.
Out in Q1: P16 Magnussen, P17 Ricciardo, P18 Ocon, P19 Schumacher, P20 Latifi.
Both Ricciardo and Ocon cannot improve by enough and drop out in Q1 together! Elsewhere Schumacher spun at Turn 1 which wrecks his final lap and drops him out.
Norris briefly dips into the drop zone but improves up to eighth, which pushes Ocon and Ricciardo into trouble...
Checkered flag
Tsunoda, who was in the bottom five, leaps up to ninth which pushes Latifi into the drop zone. Final lap time.
And here they come for the final runs, just the Ferraris and Red Bulls staying in the garage and confident of their Q2 spots.
All the drivers are in the pits preparing for their final Q1 lap. In the bottom five and needing to improve are: Tsunoda, Albon, Ricciardo, Magnussen and Zhou.
Zhou's had his best lap time deleted for exceeding track limits at Turn 12. That's dumped him to the bottom of the pile.
Stopwatch
Sainz pops in a lap to take top spot with a 1m35.297s, having been later to do his timed effort with an extra preparation lap. That'll catch the attention of the rest, as he goes almost half a second quicker than the rest.
Both Haas drivers have dipped into the bottom five along with Ricciardo, Zhou and Latifi with eight minutes of Q1 to go.
Hamilton slots into third behind Leclerc and Verstappen, with Perez fourth and Russell fifth. You'd think that those lot are safely into Q2, as attention turns to those in the bottom five.
Stopwatch
But Leclerc isn't having any of it, with his fresh engine and turbo, to go fastest with a 1m35.795s.
Stopwatch
Here comes Verstappen to do what Verstappen does... a lot. The Red Bull driver pops in a 1m35.864s to go top by three-tenths from Perez.
Stopwatch
Schumacher leads the early efforts with a 1m37.816s to put Haas on top to the delight on the home crowd. That might not last for too long, mind.
First lap times coming up, just as the two Red Bull drivers pop out for their opening runs.
There's a strong crosswind blowing through the Austin circuit - you don't need the giant flags to tell you that - so the drivers are going to have to be careful in the change of directions.
Albon, Latifi, Schumacher and Zhou are the early takers and are given a warm welcome by the fans.
Here we go for Q1!
It is a sell-out crowd at Austin, as it is for tomorrow's race, so let's hope these 20 F1 drivers put on a show worthy of the big event. That's right, Ed Sheeran's gig later tonight...
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It is your regular Q1, Q2 and Q3 shootout format, with the first part of qualifying starting in five minutes. A quick reminder of those serving grid penalties for engine part changes: Leclerc (10), Perez (5), Alonso (5), Zhou (5).
So, this will most likely be a sombre qualifying but the reward of which remains unchanged: the fight for pole position for the US GP.
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Breaking news
Dietrich Mateschitz obituary: Red Bull co-founder dies aged 78
https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/dietrich-mateschitz-obituary-red-bull-co-founder-dies-aged-78/10388627/
Horner also confirmed Red Bull would continue as planned with the upcoming F1 qualifying session, which begins in 15 minutes.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Red Bull F1 boss Christian Horner on Dietrich Mateschitz's passing: "It is very, very sad, what a great man. He is one of a kind. What he has achieved and done for so many people around the world is second to none."
Our thoughts go out to Mateschitz's family, friends and everyone connected to Red Bull across the motorsport world and beyond at this time.
Here's the latest on the sad passing of Dietrich Mateschitz:
https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/red-bull-founder-mateschitz-dies-at-78/10388607/
Breaking news
Hello one and all, we return for the build-up to qualifying with some very sad news. Red Bull co-founder and owner of the brand's F1 team Dietrich Mateschitz has died aged 78, following a lengthy illness.
We'll have a little break before qualifying, and then catch you before then to hype up what could be a fascinating session.
And here's the report from FP3 at Austin: https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/f1-united-states-gp-verstappen-beats-leclerc-to-top-spot-in-final-practice/10388555/
We'll have qualifying underway in an hour and 45 minutes but, before that, we'll have our free practice report shortly.
Verstappen boldly does his practice start from first on the grid. With Leclerc holding a grid penalty, it definitely makes Verstappen's aspirations of starting there more likely.
Checkered flag
Verstappen hence tops FP3 by 0.320s from Leclerc, with Sainz third, Perez fourth, and Hamilton fifth ahead of Alonso.
Stopwatch
Leclerc has done a 1m36.145s, but Verstappen denies the Monegasque top spot for long with a 1m35.825s to go quickest. Perez, meanwhile, displaces Hamilton for fourth.
Sainz gets up to third with his effort on softs, getting a bit deep at the end of the back straight. I figure a lot of laps will get deleted in qualifying later...
By: autosport.com
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