Lewis Hamilton topped final practice from Max Verstappen at the United States Grand Prix to set up a tantalising qualifying in Austin. Hamilton was 0.168s quicker than Verstappen as Ferrari and Red Bull look set to fight for pole position and victory for a second consecutive weekend. Charles Leclerc topped both of Friday's sessions and had set the quickest time in final practice by one tenth from Hamilton, only for it to be deleted due to track limits.
Track limits is set to be a major issue for the drivers in qualifying, which takes place at 10pm UK time later on Saturday (build-up from 8.30pm live on Sky Sports F1 and Main Event) due to the tarmac run-off areas and the drivers keen to use every bit of track to gain lap time. Leclerc still finished the session in third, ahead of championship leader Kimi Antonelli whose chances of becoming the youngest world champion look extremely difficult, given he must first win the Grand Prix to give himself an opportunity, and Mercedes are a tad off the pace. Antonelli was three tenths behind Hamilton's pace-setting time with his Mercedes team-mate George Russell in fifth at nearly half a second down.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player McLaren's Lando Norris was eighth but would have been in the top five had his best lap not been deleted for track limit, while Oscar Piastri was sixth and Audi's Nico Hulkenberg impressed in seventh. "There was a feeling in the paddock, and having spoken to other teams, that maybe Ferrari's pace was potentially unrealistic yesterday in terms of how quick they were," said Sky Sports F1's Anthony Davidson. "But, I would say, when it gets to this stage in the weekend I think it's more genuine than first met the eye yesterday.
I know Ferrari often are quite strong in free practice sessions and that melts away in qualy, but I've got a feeling today they are going to hang on to that speed." Traffic was an issue for some drivers with Hamilton having to take avoiding action at the end of the back straight when approaching Audi's Gabriel Bortoleto, while Red Bull's Isack Hadjar fumed at Alex Albon as he claimed the Williams driver got in his way into Turn 1. Hadjar was only 10th in final practice and one second off the pace behind Alpine's Pierre Gasly. Saturday October 248.30pm: United States Grand Prix Qualifying build-up*10pm: UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX QUALIFYING*12am: F1 Academy Race 2*12.45am: Ted's Qualifying Notebook* Sunday October 255pm: F1 Academy Race 36.30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: United States GP build-up*8pm: THE UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX*10pm: Chequered Flag: United States GP reaction11pm: Ted's Notebook Formula 1 heads to The Americas for another triple-header with the United States Grand Prix in Austin up first this weekend, live on Sky Sports F1.
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