Sebastian Vettel has explained how it felt like driving on ice during the early stages of the United States Grand Prix weekend, and joked that using the intermediate tyres might well have been faster during Friday practice. However, since practice one on Friday morning, the tracks grip levels have steadily improved.
Many drivers up and down the order were amazed with the lack of grip throughout the opening two practice sessions of the weekend, which saw many drivers simply unable to complete a proper racing lap with grip around the brand-new Circuit of the Americas practically non-existent. Since then however, the tracks grip levels have gradually improved, enabling the drivers to attack the circuit. Despite the improvement in grip, many drivers still initially struggled during the final practice session prior to qualifying, with the cold temperatures playing havoc with the Pirelli tyres.
“Obviously I think for all of us it was quite a surprise yesterday to start on this track, and it was very, very slippery.” Explained Sebastian Vettel, “It was like driving on ice – and I think the first run would have been quicker on Intermediate tyres, so obviously the asphalt was pretty fresh for all of us. It took a while to come in but I think you [will] see the lap times now just getting quicker and quicker, so the circuit is ramping-up massively.”
Despite the difficult track conditions earlier in the day, Sebastian Vettel looked positively glued to the circuit during qualifying, as the German dominated the session and took pole for his 100th Grand Prix. With Fernando Alonso starting way back in 8th, the Red Bull driver is poised perfectly to take both the Constructors’ and Drivers’ Championships during the 56-lap United States Grand Prix.
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