Austin, Texas – Wet weather conditions added an extra layer of drama to the Formula 1 qualifying session in Austin, Texas. As the drivers navigated the challenging Circuit of the Americas, Ferrari faced a disastrous outcome with both of their drivers failing to advance to Q3.
In Q2, George Russell set an impressive lap time of 1m 12.323s, positioning himself at the top of the timesheets ahead of his teammate Lewis Hamilton. However, Max Verstappen encountered difficulty with track traffic as he aimed to improve from his 11th place position. Alex Albon also faced trouble in the pits, requiring a check on his car due to a cross-threaded wheel nut.
The session became increasingly tense as rain threatened to arrive, pushing drivers to secure a spot in the crucial top-10 shootout. Verstappen managed to climb to fifth place, but Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc found himself outside the top 10 as the chequered flag fell. Carlos Sainz, Leclerc’s teammate, also failed to make headway and ended up joining him in a surprising double elimination for the Italian team.
Ultimately, the Q2 session saw Leclerc, Sainz, Sargeant, Magnussen, and Gasly knocked out, with each driver unable to secure a spot in the final qualifying round. Ferrari, known for their historical dominance in Formula 1, faced a disappointing setback as both of their drivers were eliminated before the crucial Q3 session. The unexpected turn of events reshuffled the grid and set the stage for an unpredictable race day in Austin.