United States GP: Stroll ahead of Vettel in free practice

Quebecer Lance Stroll improved throughout the day of free practice ahead of the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix on Friday in Austin, Texas.

During the first session, the Aston Martin team driver set a fastest time of 1 min 36.972 s on the Circuit des Amériques. His teammate Sebastian Vettel was slower by just two hundredths of a second, in 14th place.

Only three drivers went below the 1 min 36 s mark, namely the two Mercedes drivers Valtteri Bottas and Lewis Hamilton, as well as Max Verstappen (Red Bull). The latter still conceded nearly a second to the Finnish leader, who completed the circuit in 1: 34.874.

For the second session, most of the drivers set better times, including Stroll, who finished sixth. The 22-year-old slashed nearly a second and a half in his time from the first downs, with a fastest lap of 1: 35.561.

Sergio Perez (Red Bull) was the fastest this time around with a time of 1: 34.946. Lando Norris (McLaren) and Hamilton followed him in order. However, it was less convincing for Verstappen (8th) and Vettel (15th).

This is a return to Austin for Formula 1, after the 2020 Grand Prix was canceled due to COVID-19. In his third appearance in Texas in 2019, Stroll could not have done better than 14th place on the starting grid and 13th place after 56 laps.

Qualifying for the United States Grand Prix will take place on Saturday, followed by the race the next day.