US GP Qualifying Report

There was only one name on everyone's lips going into this event in Austin, Texas: Kimi Antonelli.  Russell and Hamilton would have to do very badly this weekend and he would have to win and the Mercedes driver would be world champion.  And now I will move on.

Qualifying was Ferrari's to lose, they had been the fastest in every practice session.  They started losing it in the first session when Norris was quickest.  Gasly was the only driver who fell foul of the track limits but he put in another lap and secured his place.  It was a predictable six drivers that went out: Ocon, Stroll, Sainz, Albon, Perez and Bottas.  Alonso had been on fire to put on a bit of a show for the Americans.

Leclerc regained that quickest slot in the second session ahead of Antonelli.  It was uneventful and out went Gasly, Hulkenberg, Bearman, Bortoleto, Colapino and a smoking Alonso.

Ferrari entirely lost it - or Ferraried it up - in the final session.  Calmly, Antonelli slid in and took the pole position from nowhere.  I won't mention why this might be important.  Behind him were Verstappen, Hadjar, Leclerc, Hamilton, Norris, Russell, Piastri, Linblad and Lawson.

The stewards were out in force: there were track limits infringements here and black and white flags for driving unnecessarily slowly there.  I wonder what they will get up to during the race or will they have had so much brisket and beer that they have a lovely nap?

Bortoleto will start at the back of the grid for the race with a record (?) 60 place grid drop, for that he has replaced everything on his car, had a respray and had two ribs removed.

It was a pretty uneventful Qualifying but the drivers went out and showed their skill and the teams produced the best cars they could to challenge with so there's little you can do without being too artificial.  Let's hope something interesting happens in the race.