Hamilton fastest in final Austin practice, Verstappen second and Leclerc's lap deleted

Hamilton tops the final practice

Lewis Hamilton set the fastest time in the third and last free practice session for the United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, with a lap of 1:34.893. Max Verstappen was second, 16 hundredths of a second slower according to Gelderlander, or 0.168 seconds back according to Telegraaf. Charles Leclerc had gone faster than Hamilton, but that lap was removed for exceeding the track limits at turn 10. Leclerc therefore finished third, ahead of Mercedes drivers Kimi Antonelli and George Russell.

Friday's sessions

Leclerc had been the quickest driver in both practice sessions on Friday, 23 October. Verstappen said after Friday's first practice sessions that he still had trouble with the bumpy surface of the circuit. Both Ferrari drivers have therefore been at the front of the timing screens since the weekend began.

Qualifying and the season so far

Qualifying for the Grand Prix of the United States was scheduled for 23:00 Dutch time on Saturday, 24 October. Verstappen won the last two races in Malaysia and Singapore, according to Gelderlander. He has four race wins in Texas and eight in total on American soil, including two in Miami and two in Las Vegas. Telegraaf reports that Ferrari is heading into qualifying with a good feeling.