Max Verstappen just managed to edge out Charles Leclerc to top FP3 in F1 US GP by 0.320s with Carlos Sainz ending up third.

It was a clean FP3 session in F1 US GP at Circuit of the Americas with no real dramas as Red Bull’s Verstappen set the pace of 1m35.825s lap by 0.320s from Ferrari’s Leclerc (1m36.145s), who was fastest in FP2. The Dutchman did a late lap like the Monegasque.

The other Ferrari of Sainz (1m36.271s) ended up third with Red Bull’s Sergio Perez (1m36.397s) fourth after his late attempt. The Mexican caught Alpine’s Fernando Alonso (1m36.928s) out but apologised straight up, with the Spaniard in a good sixth despite having got the penalty.

He stood behind Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton (1m36.401s) in fifth as his teammate George Russell (1m37.064s) was seventh from the Aston Martin pair of Sebastian Vettel (1m37.151s) and Lance Stroll (1m37.215s), as AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly (1m37.290s) rounded the Top 10.

Both Hamilton and Russell had some moments in the session but pace wise were just behind the Top 2 teams. Alfa Romeo’s Valtteri Bottas was 11th with McLaren not having the best of time where the lead of Lando Norris was only 12th.

Alpine’s Esteban Ocon was 13th from Haas’ Kevin Magnussen as brake issues hampered McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo’s run in 15th. AlphaTauri’s Yuki Tsunoda was 16th from Williams pair of Alexander Albon and Nicholas Latifi in 17th and 18th.

Haas’ Mick Schumacher was 19th after facing ERS water pump issue where the team fixed up the problem for some late laps, but it wasn’t the same for Zhou Guanyu who had issues with his Alfa Romeo car and team selected to end his session early.

The Chinese racer is set for grid penalty along with Perez, while Leclerc is to join them after taking his sixth ICE and sixth TC. At the same time, Alonso will also get a grid penalty for taking his sixth ICE of the season.

Here’s what was said on Friday of F1 US GP

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