Lando Norris Sets Fast Pace at US Grand Prix Practice Session

Lando Norris has made a strong impression at the United States Grand Prix by clocking the fastest time during the only practice session before the Sprint Qualifying. The session took place on October 17, 2023, at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, just a day after Norris disclosed that he faced unspecified “repercussions” from McLaren following a collision with his teammate and title rival, Oscar Piastri, during the opening lap of the previous race in Singapore.

Norris ended the practice session with a remarkable lap time of **1:33.294**, achieved late in the hour on soft tyres. This performance sets a competitive tone as the F1 title battle continues in the season’s fourth Sprint weekend.

During the closing minutes, significant track evolution allowed Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg to surge into second place, finishing the session just **0.255 seconds** behind Norris. Piastri, who currently leads Norris by **22 points** in the Drivers’ Championship, secured third place with a time that was **0.279 seconds** slower than Norris. Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen rounded out the top five, showcasing the competitive spirit of this weekend’s event.

Further back in the field, George Russell, who recently signed a new contract with Mercedes, and Lewis Hamilton, both opted for medium tyres, placing seventh and eighth, respectively. Charles Leclerc, driving for Ferrari, faced difficulties in the latter part of the session due to gear shift issues, which forced him to abandon his run amid the smell of burning oil.

As the excitement builds for the Sprint Qualifying later that evening, fans are eagerly anticipating how these results will influence the subsequent races.

The schedule for the US Grand Prix weekend is packed, with the Sprint Qualifying commencing at **10:00 PM** local time, followed by the Sprint race on October 18 at **6:00 PM**. The main event, the United States Grand Prix, is set to take place on October 19, starting at **8:00 PM**.

With the competition heating up, all eyes will be on Norris and his rivals as they prepare for the challenges ahead in Austin.