Charles Leclerc secured pole position in qualifying at the US Grand Prix for the race on Sunday, October 22nd, 2023, 9 p.m., in the live ticker at sportschau.de). Leclerc benefited from a mistake by world champion Max Verstappen.
A driving error cost Formula 1 champion Verstappen the best starting position for the US Grand Prix. Because the Red Bull driver briefly went off the track during qualifying on Friday evening (October 20, 2023, local time) in Austin, his best time was canceled by the race stewards. Therefore, Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc will start from pole position in Texas on Sunday (9 p.m.).
Verstappen only in sixth place
Second in the hunt for starting position was Lando Norris in the McLaren ahead of record world champion Lewis Hamilton in the Mercedes. Verstappen had to be content with sixth place.
In the only free practice session, also on Friday, Verstappen was fastest, leaving Leclerc in the Ferrari behind by around one and a half tenths.
Early exit for Hülkenberg
For Nico Hülkenberg, the working day was over after the first part of the qualification. Despite new components on his Haas racing car, the 36-year-old couldn’t get past 16th place. On his final lap he felt slightly hindered by the Red Bull drivers.
Verstappen had already won his third title in a row in Qatar almost two weeks ago. Red Bull is also already world constructors’ champion. For Verstappen, the final spurt of the season is still about possible records such as the most Grand Prix victories in a season. The Dutchman has won 14 of the 17 races this year; his record from last year is 15 successes.
Before the main race at the Circuit of the Americas, Formula 1 will run a sprint on Sunday night (from midnight). It is the fifth of six of these races this season, which have been shortened to around 100 kilometers