The Auto Channel in Austin - Qualifying report: USGP

By Peter Habicht
Formula1 Desk
The Auto Channel

Austin Texas October 22, 2022; Carlos Sainz took his second career pole today for Scuderia Ferrari in front of over 100,000 fans today at Circuit of The Americas, edging out teammate Charles Leclerc dramatically in the final turns with no time remaining in the session.

Max Verstappen took third for Red Bull, who were racing with heavy hearts following the breaking news that Red Bull co-founder, Dietrich Mateschitz, had passed away.

After qualifying Max shared his thoughts on the personal loss he and the team were feeling: “What he has meant for Red Bull, and of course also for the sport, and especially also for me, what he has done for me in terms of my career so far and in general my life . . . its really tough. It’s a very tough day.” Teams up and down the grid shared their condolences also after the news broke following free practice earlier in the day.

Lewis Hamilton finished ahead of teammate George Russell by .04s in P5, but over half a second behind Sainz, but both Mercedes drivers will be moving up a two grid spot following a grid position penalty for Leclerc and Perez, after engines and turbo on Leclerc were replaced this weekend.

Several other drivers will also be serving grid penalties following engine changes, leaving the provisional grid for the 10th running of the USGP in Austin as:

Carlos Sainz
Max Verstappen
Lewis Hamilton
George Russell
Lance Stroll
Lando Norris
Valttieri Bottas
Alex Albon
Sergio Perez *
Sebastian Vettel
Pierre Gasly
Charles Leclerc **
Yuki Tsunoda
Fernando Alonso *
Kevin Magnussen
Daniel Ricciardo
Esteban Ocon
Mick Schumacher
Guanyu Zhou *
Nicholas Latifi

* 5 grid place penalty (engine)
** 10 grid place penalty (engine + turbo)