The Formula 1 Circus returns to the scene in Austin after a year off and does so with one Mercedes great protagonist, both on and off the track. Valtteri Bottas set the best time in the first free practice session of the United States Grand Prix, ahead of team mate Lewis by 45 thousandths Hamilton. The Finnish driver, however, will have to serve a new penalty on the starting grid (5 positions) for having fitted the sixth internal combustion engine of the season after the fourth in Monza and the fifth in Sochi.
Far away Max Verstappen, however third but more than nine tenths from the two Black Arrows. A gap that will certainly be shortened, also taking into account the conditions of the Texan track, but which psychologically puts Mercedes in an advantageous position in view of tonight’s second free practice.
Fourth and fifth place for two o’clock Ferrari by Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, respectively 1.4 and 1.6 seconds behind Bottas: the Monegasque was also the protagonist of a spin in the early stages of the session, fortunately without affecting his SF21. Behind the two Reds we find once again an excellent AlphaTauri with Pierre Gasly, which precedes Sergio’s second Red Bull Perez (who recorded his best time on hard tires); at the end of the Top-10, Lando’s McLaren Norris, eighth, and Antonio’s two Alfa Romeos Giovinazzi and Kimi Raikkonen.
Plumbing problems during the installation lap for Fernando Alonso, who still managed to complete a few laps finishing 15th behind Sebastian Vettel (he too, like Bottas and Russell, was penalized for the change of components of the power unit). Instead, Daniel disappoints Ricciardo, especially looking at the times of Norris’ other McLaren.
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F1 | United States GP 2021, ranking PL1
Pos | Pilot | Team | Time and mix | Detachment | Turns |
1 | Valtteri Bottas | Mercedes | 1: 34.874 (S) | 17 | |
2 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | 1: 34.919 (S) | +0.045 | 18 |
3 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Honda | 1: 35.806 (S) | +0.932 | 16 |
4 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1: 36.334 (S) | +1.460 | 18 |
5 | Carlos Sainz | Ferrari | 1: 36.508 (S) | +1.634 | 20 |
6 | Pierre Gasly | AlphaTauri Honda | 1: 36.611 (S) | +1.737 | 18 |
7 | Sergio Perez | Red Bull Honda | 1: 36.798 (H) | +1.924 | 20 |
8 | Landau Norris | McLaren Mercedes | 1: 36.855 (S) | +1.981 | 11 |
9 | Antonio Giovinazzi | Alfa Romeo Ferrari | 1: 36.874 (S) | +2,000 | 18 |
10 | Kimi Räikkönen | Alfa Romeo Ferrari | 1: 36.876 (S) | +2.002 | 18 |
11 | George Russell | Williams Mercedes | 1: 36.966 (S) | +2,092 | 19 |
12 | Esteban Or with | Alpine Renault | 1: 36.970 (S) | +2,096 | 22 |
13 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin Mercedes | 1: 36.972 (S) | +2.098 | 20 |
14 | Sebastian Vettel | Aston Martin Mercedes | 1: 36.982 (S) | +2.108 | 20 |
15 | Fernando Alonso | Alpine Renault | 1: 37.068 (S) | +2.194 | 12 |
16 | Daniel Ricciardo | McLaren Mercedes | 1: 37.458 (M) | +2.584 | 18 |
17 | Nicholas Latifi | Williams Mercedes | 1: 37.463 (S) | +2.589 | 19 |
18 | Yuki Tsunoda | AlphaTauri Honda | 1: 37.954 (M) | +3.080 | 22 |
19 | Mick Schumacher | Haas Ferrari | 1: 38.866 (S) | +3.992 | 17 |
20 | Nikita Mazepin | Haas Ferrari | 1: 42.239 (M) | +7.365 | 19 |
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