Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) was the fastest (1:36.810) at the end of free practice at the United States F1 Grand Prix on Friday, the second session nevertheless proving hardly significant because dedicated to the test of Pirelli tires for the Prototypes 2023.
To discover
Formula 1: The calendar of the 2022 season
Formula 1: Building classification
Formula 1: Pilot classification
But in the fight that concerns him for second place in the drivers' championship, against Sergio Pérez (Red Bull) who set the 10th fastest time, the Monegasque will be able to be satisfied with this very slight ascendancy.
And especially the penalty of five places on the starting grid Sunday in Austin, inflicted on the Mexican, after a change of too many of the internal combustion engine.
One point currently separates the two rivals, far behind the untouchable Max Verstappen, crowned champion for the second consecutive year less than two weeks ago after his victory in Japan.
Pérez has indeed 253 points and Leclerc 252. If the suspense remains as to who will finish runner-up to the Dutchman, it remains almost non-existent for the race for the constructors' championship, Red Bull, even penalized, having a good chance of being crowned for the fifth time in its history, at the end of this 19th event.
The champagne is chilled, ready to be uncorked... But it's not completely party time, because the British team has been pinned by the International Automobile Federation for exceeding the budget ceiling last season.
According to the FIA, the offense committed is “minor”, that is to say an overrun below 5% of the ceiling then set at 145 million dollars.
The body announced Thursday that an acceptance agreement had been offered to Red Bull, who must decide whether to endorse it or not.
Under the eyes of Brad Pitt
The latter, which remains confidential, may in particular include, according to the F1 regulations which provide for it, a “financial penalty” or a “sporting penalty”.
If the team does not admit being at fault, and therefore decides to refuse the agreement, the case will be brought before the arbitration committee competent in matters of budgetary capping (“Cost Cap Adjudication Panel”).
Pending the outcome of this affair, which is shaking the paddock behind the scenes, few lessons could therefore be learned from this first day of testing, the second session having even been extended by 30 minutes to allow Pirelli to test its prototype slick tires. of the 2023 season.
Behind Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), the Finn Valtteri Bottas (Alfa Romeo) achieved the second time (at 715/1000th) and the Italian Daniel Ricciardo (McLaren) the third (at 817/1000th).
Max Verstappen (Red Bull) set the seventh fastest time, just ahead of Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes), looking for a first victory this season - which would be his fifth overall (2014-2017) on the bumpy circuit of the Americas (5.513 km) - and who had a little scare at the penultimate corner by starting a little too wide.
All under the passionate eyes of Brad Pitt, who dined with the Briton on Thursday evening in Austin to discuss a film on Formula 1, in which the American actor will play the leading role, under the direction of director Joseph Kosinski (“Top Gun Maverick”) and which will be produced and broadcast by Apple TV.
