2023-10-20 23:04:36
Strong performance by record champion Lewis Hamilton in qualifying for the US Grand Prix: The 38-year-old Englishman puts his Mercedes racer in third place on the grid.
However, a USA GP at the Circuit of the Americas has never been won by a driver outside the front row of the grid. Lewis grins: “Then it’s probably time to change that!”
After his good final training in Texas, the Brit says: “We are getting closer to the top, and that says everything regarding the tireless work of all the specialists in the racing car factory. We had good qualifications and we were able to show that we can compete with the others.”
What has caused the recent improvement on the ground? “I wouldn’t say the handling is completely different, the car has just fundamentally gotten better.”
Does Hamilton really have a chance of winning here? “It is still too early to say for sure. We haven’t done much endurance running in the sprint format, so I can’t comment on that. But if Max is a little further back, maybe I can show a good race once morest Leclerc and Norris.”
Why does Hamilton often drive so hard here? “I don’t know it. All I can say is that I always feel very comfortable in America, and this train is simply amazing. It’s a new track, but it has that touch of traditional track in the style of Silverstone or Suzuka. It’s difficult, it’s wavy, I love that.”
GP-Qualifying, USA
01. Charles Leclerc (MC), Ferrari, 1:34,723
02. Lando Norris (GB), McLaren, 1:34.853
03. Lewis Hamilton (GB), Mercedes, 1:34,862
04. Carlos Sainz (E), Ferrari, 1:34.945
05. George Russell (GB), Mercedes, 1:35,079
06. Max Verstappen (NL), Red Bull Racing, 1:35,081
07. Pierre Gasly (F), Alpine, 1:35,089
08. Esteban Ocon (F), Alpine, 1:35,154
09. Sergio Pérez (MEX), Red Bull Racing, 1:35.173
10. Oscar Piastri (AUS), McLaren, 1:35.467
11. Yuki Tsunoda (J), AlphaTauri, 1:35,697
12. Guanyu Zhou (RCH), Alfa Romeo, 1:35,698
13. Valtteri Bottas (FIN), Alfa Romeo, 1:35,858
14. Kevin Magnussen (DK), Haas, 1:35.880
15. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS), AlphaTauri, 1:35.974
16. Nico Hülkenberg (D), Haas, 1:36.235
17. Fernando Alonso (E), Aston Martin, 1:36.268
18. Alex Albon (T), Williams, 1:36,315
19. Lance Stroll (CDN), Aston Martin, 1:36,589
20. Logan Sargeant (USA), Williams, 1:36,827
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