City
Epaper

Hamilton tops 2nd free practice for US GP

By IANS | Updated: November 2, 2019 13:20 IST

Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) finished first in the second free practice ahead of the US Grand Prix (GP).

Open in App

The British five-time Formula 1 champion set fastest time of 1:33.232 hr on his 34th lap around the Circuit of the Americas on brisk, sunny day in Austin late on Friday, reports Efe news.

Monaco's Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) was second, just ahead of Dutchman Max Verstappen (Red Bull), who was the best in FP1.

The second session was interrupted for 10 minutes after Romain Grosjean crashed his Haas into a wall. The French driver emerged unscathed, but the car took a beating.

Germany's Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) was fourth in FP2, while Hamilton's Finnish teammate, Valtteri Bottas, took the fifth spot, followed in sixth by Thai driver Alex Albon (Red Bull).

Frenchman Pierre Gasly (Toro Rosso) was seventh and Spain's Carlos Sainz (McLaren) improved from 12th in FP1 to eighth.

Lance Stroll of Canada, who drives for Racing Point, finished ninth and Italy's Antonio Giovinazzi (Alfa Romeo) took 10th place.

FP3 and three rounds of qualifying will be held on Saturday afternoon.

The race the 19th of the 21-race 2019 F1 season will take place on Sunday afternoon.

Hamilton will clinch a sixth F1 drivers' title on Sunday unless he fails to finish in the top eight and Bottas wins the race.

With yet another championship, the 34-year-old would move within one of the record held by German racing legend Michael Schumacher, who won seven drivers' titles between 1994 and 2004.

Hamilton leads the 2019 drivers' standings with 363 points, 74 more than the second-place Bottas.

The driver and his car have been remarkably consistent throughout the year, with Hamilton not having been forced to retire from a single race and only once finishing outside of the top five through 18 races.

After the US stop, the season will conclude with the Brazilian Grand Prix at the Jose Carlos Pace Autodrome in Sao Paulo's Interlagos neighbourhood on November 17 and the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on December 1.

Mercedes clinched its sixth consecutive constructors' championship at last month's Japanese Grand Prix.

( With inputs from IANS )

Tags: HamiltonBottasFerrariCharles Leclerc
Open in App

Related Stories

MumbaiVijay Mallya’s Ferrari Spotted in Mumbai; Who Is the Owner? (Watch Video)

EntertainmentMadhuri Dixit Purchases ₹6 Crore Ferrari on Makar Sankranti; Enjoys Ride in Mumbai with Husband

EntertainmentCheck Out: Ibrahim Ali Khan Meets F1 Star Charles Leclerc at Miami Grand Prix, Photos Go Viral

NationalIT Department Raids Banshidhar Tobacco Company Owners, Luxury Vehicles Worth Over Rs 60 Crore Seized

CricketNZ v SA: Williamson Becomes Fastest Batsman to Hit 32 Test hundreds

Other Sports Realted Stories

Other SportsKapil Dev Grant Thornton Invitational: Cheema surges ahead with flawless 64 on Day Two

Other SportsKarna Kadur, Musa Sherif sets quickest time in Super Special Stage of Asia Pacific Rally Championship

Other SportsIPL 2025: Umran Malik joins KKR for rehab and return to cricket programme

Other SportsIPL 2025: Rachin, Shankar make way for Brevis, Hooda as SRH opt to bowl vs CSK

Other SportsIPL 2025: MS Dhoni reaches 400 T20 games milestone