F1 | United States GP: Hamilton flies in second free practice, Leclerc chases

The second round of free practice on the Austin circuit in Texas recently ended. After a rather dull first session, Lewis Hamilton redeemed himself in the American afternoon with the best time of 1:33.232. The Englishman precedes Charles Leclerc's Ferrari and Max Verstappen's Red Bull.

Next, we find the other Ferrari of Sebastian Vettel in fourth position. Fifth time for Valtteri Bottas. Sixth Alex Albon, ahead of Pierre Gasly and Carlos Sainz. Completing the top 10: Lance Stroll and Antonio Giovinazzi.

Lewis Hamilton showed a truly impressive and constant race pace but the commitment of Charles Leclerc should not be underestimated as he recorded similar times to Mercedes in race pace on the yellow tire (Hamilton was on the hard tire).

The session was interrupted due to a red flag following Romain Grosjean's accident when he crashed into the barriers between turns 5 and 6, fortunately without consequences.

Let's review the most important moments of this second session in our recap!

News – Higher temperatures in the afternoon in Austin with 15 degrees in the air and 24 on the asphalt. The Williams, Albon's Red Bull and the McLarens immediately take to the track.
Albon in the lead with 1:36.949 but was beaten by Sainz with 1:36.944. Then Kvyat will set the pace with 1:36.538 and then Raikkonen with 1:36.395.

Albon regains the lead with 1:35.411 but Bottas goes ahead of everyone with 1:35.108.
Leclerc moved up to first place with a 1:34.742 but the session was suspended due to a red flag due to Grosjean's accident against the barriers between turns 5 and 6.
The session restarts and Verstappen climbs to second position. Vettel still lagging behind, occupies eighth position while Hamilton moves into third position. Leclerc lowers his time again with 1:34.434 on yellow tyre.

Subsequently, Vettel climbs to fifth place. He spins for Antonio Giovinazzi at turn 6 but fortunately does not impact the barriers.
Hamilton is approaching Leclerc's time on white tyre, a tenth behind the Monegasque.
At minute 46, Bottas dictates the pace but Vettel is faster, 1:33.890 for the German. Leclerc is also very fast and takes the lead with 1:33.533.

After a few minutes, Hamilton takes the lead with 1:33.232. Good seventh place for Antonio Giovinazzi.
We arrive with 20 minutes to go, the race pace simulations in action. Ferrari and Mercedes run at a high 1:39. Subsequently, Verstappen will be the fastest in race pace with 1:39.184.

Vettel spins at turn 14 but no problem for the SF90, Kvyat also makes a mistake at the same point.
Ten minutes to go, Hamilton is on white tyre, Leclerc on track with yellow tyre. Bottas on the soft tyres, Vettel is still on the hard tyres. Verstappen, Leclerc and Albon with the mediums.
Hamilton really impressive on the hard tyre, 1:39.002 for the Englishman. And we reach the checkered flag with Hamilton's first time, ahead of Leclerc and Verstappen.

US GP: the results of the second free practice session

Pos. N. Driver Team Time
1 44 L. Hamilton Mercedes 1’33″232
2 16 C. Leclerc Ferrari 1’33″533
3 33 M. Verstappen Red Bull 1’33″547
4 5 S. Vettel Ferrari 1’33″890
5 77 V. Bottas Mercedes 1’34″045
6 23 A. Albon Red Bull 1’34″434
7 10 P. Gasly Toro Rosso 1’34″509
8 55 C. Sainz McLaren 1’34″667
9 18 L. Stroll Racing Point 1’34″744
10 99 A. Giovinazzi Alfa Romeo 1’34″839
11 3 D. Ricciardo Renault 1’34″924
12 26 D. Kvyat Toro Rosso 1’34″975
13 27 N. Hulkenberg Renault 1’34″988
14 4 L. Norris McLaren 1’35″025
15 11 S. Perez Racing Point 1’35″109
16 7 K. Raikkonen Alfa Romeo 1’35″387
17 20 K. Magnussen Haas 1’35″442
18 8 R. Grosjean Haas 1’35″789
19 63 G. Russell Williams 1’36″749
20 88 R. Kubica Williams 1’37″283