Hamilton Fastest in Final Practice Before US Grand Prix Qualifying

Hamilton set the quickest lap in the third free practice session of the Formula 1 US Grand Prix weekend in Austin. The session was held right before qualifying, where drivers will compete for positions on the race grid, so the results offer a picture of the balance of pace ahead of the deciding session.

Hamilton was the only driver able to get below the 1 minute 35 second mark in the final 20 minutes of the session. His best time was 1:34.893.

How the session unfolded

After a calm start, Verstappen briefly moved into the lead on medium tyres, even though he complained about problems with gear shifting. Leclerc took over at the top a little later.

Track limits played a major role in the decisive minutes. Kimi Antonelli initially improved on Leclerc's time, but his lap was deleted because of a violation at turn nine. Verstappen then went to the front, but Hamilton, on soft tyres, responded with an even faster lap.

Leclerc also set a quick time that could have changed the order at the top, but he exceeded track limits at turn ten and ended up third.

The top six

Antonelli set the fourth-fastest time, George Russell was fifth, and Oscar Piastri completed the top six.

Qualifying begins at midnight Latvian time.