This is the 26-year-old's third place this year, and the 21st of his career. McLaren's British driver Lando Norris, who was 13 hundredths of a second slower, could start alongside Leclerc on Sunday. Seven-time world champion and Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton, who is also British, will start the race from the third grid.
Surprisingly, Max Verstappen, who won his third consecutive world title two weeks ago in Qatar, was only sixth in qualifying. The Dutch Red Bull star was able to set a better time than Leclerc at the start of the third stage of qualifying, but his achievement was canceled due to him leaving the track, and the time he achieved previously meant that he placed sixth.
The 56-lap Austin race begins Sunday at 9 p.m.
On Saturday, the Sprint Race will be held in Austin, and before that the Sprint Time Trial will be held.
Full start command:
1. Sur:
Charles Leclerc (Monaco, Ferrari)
Lando Norris (British, McLaren)
2. Sur:
Lewis Hamilton (British, Mercedes)
Carlos Sainz Jr. (Espanyol, Ferrari)
3. Sur:
George Russell (British, Mercedes)
Max Verstappen (Netherlands, Red Bull)
4. Sur:
Pierre Gasly (France, Alps)
Esteban Ocon (France, Alps)
5. Sur:
Sergio Perez (Mexican, Red Bull)
Oscar Piastri (Australian, McLaren)
6. Sur:
Juki Konoda (Japan, AlphaTauri)
Zhou Kuan-Yu (Chinese, Alfa Romeo)
7. Sur:
Valtteri Bottas (Finn, Alfa Romeo)
Kevin Magnussen (Denmark, Haas)
8. Sur:
Daniel Ricciardo (Australian, AlphaTauri)
Nico Hulkenberg (German, Haas)
9. Sur:
Fernando Alonso (Spain, Aston Martin)
Alexander Albon (Thailand, Williams)
10. Sur:
Lance Stroll (Canadian, Aston Martin)
Logan Sargent (American, Williams)
Additional program:
——————
Saturday:
Sprint qualifying 7:30 p.m
Sunday:
For speed racing 0.00
Race 21.00
