Lewis Hamilton bought the higher of reigning world champion Max Verstappen in qualifying for the US Grand Prix on Friday. The Dutchman might solely handle a P6 end in Q3.
Verstappen and Purple Bull executed a messy session as Mercedes and Ferrari each threatened them on tempo. When the chequered flag waved the Dutchman was sitting down in P6, whereas team-mate Sergio Perez might solely handle a P8 end.
The reigning world champion felt as if his penultimate run was ruined by the soiled air of Checo’s RB19, taking to the radio to fume: “Properly carried out, effectively **** carried out there! What the **** was that within the final nook?”
This distress was compounded a couple of minutes later as Verstappen ran broad on his ultimate flying lap, which was subsequently deleted leaving him manner down the order.
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There was loads extra to rejoice within the Mercedes camp as they adopted up their robust tempo in Qatar with an assault on pole place because of Hamilton’s efforts.
The seven-time world champion might solely slot in behind Leclerc after the penultimate runs after going purple within the center sector and was ultimately labeled in P3, however this was one other encouraging displaying for the 38-year-old.
Hamilton was fast to reward the workforce again on the Mercedes manufacturing facility in Brackley after the session. The Silver Arrows have launched a brand new ground for the US GP as they finalise their improvement path for 2024.
“An enormous thanks to everybody on the manufacturing facility,” Hamilton mentioned, discussing the state of play at Mercedes. “They’ve been pushing so laborious to enhance our automobile and we’ve taken a little bit of a step nearer to those guys this weekend, which I do know everyone seems to be working so laborious for.
“I actually do respect their efforts. Sadly, they’re nonetheless somewhat bit forward however we are going to give it one other shot tomorrow.”
The 2 different Brits on the entrance finish of the grid endured differing afternoons. Lando Norris extracted most efficiency from his McLaren equipment to punch within the second-fastest lap time of the session as he goes looking for a fourth successive podium end.
George Russell, in the meantime, struggled to hook up the W14 all through qualifying and was finally content material with a P5 end after failing to threaten his team-mate throughout all of Friday’s working.
