EL1 in Austin: Verstappen draws first in Texas

After the first 90 minutes of driving on the Circuit of the Americas, the only certain lesson that we are able to draw is the following: the track is bumpy, very bumpy. The pilots kept getting excited about it on the radio but that didn't stop them from doing their job. 

Contested in bitter cold reminiscent of the Barcelona winter tests (8°C mercury at the opening of the pit lane, 12°C at the end of the session), the opening session smiled on Red Bull, who signed the best time of these EL1 via Max Verstappen. His teammate Alexander albon allows to Milton Keynes to achieve a nice grouped lap with the 3rd fastest time, 0”259 behind his leader.

Between the RB15s with Honda engines slips the Ferrari de Sebastian Vettel, which is 0''169 from the reference time established by the Dutchman in 1'34''057.

Pierre Gasly confirms his comeback in force on the side of Toro Rosso with the 4th mark of the morning session aboard his STR14. The French precedes the Renault de Daniel Ricciardo, and his compatriot Romain Grosjean, whose stable Haas plays at home this weekend.

Victim of an engine alert at the start of the session, Charles Leclerc must be satisfied with 7th place in his Ferrari. It turns out that the problem was actually with the accelerator pedal. 

To find the highest ranked Mercedes, you have to go down to the 8th row, property of Lewis Hamilton. The Briton, who can claim a 6th world crown this weekend, had completed a faster lap but this mark was erased for non-compliance with the racing limits at turn 19. 

Solid 9th position for the North American Lance stroll at the wheel of the highest ranked Racing Point. The Top 10 is completed by the Haas VF-19 of Kevin Magnussen.

In the second half of the table, we find in particular the Mercedes of Valtteri Bottas, the only driver who can still claim the planetary title even if the Finn's chances are infinitesimal. Bottas finished in 17th position, stuck between the Renault of Nico Hulkenberg and McLaren de Lando Norris. Discreet session for the orange single-seaters, in delicacy during the last Mexican Grand Prix: Carlos Sainz is only 12th. 

Not surprisingly, Williams bring up the rear. Robert Kubica is almost 4 seconds behind Verstappen, while the reserve Nicholas latifi, already in action in Mexico, suffered a mechanical problem after only 7 laps completed. 

FP1 CLASSIFICATION@redbullracing's @Max33Verstappen leads the way, with team mate @alex_albon and P3 behind Sebastian Vettel#USGP  #F1 pic.twitter.com/6G3n5azZbX

— Formula 1 (@F1) November 1, 2019