Austin, TX
Leclerc takes F1 pole for U.S. Grand Prix
AUSTIN, TX — Charles Leclerc will start Sunday’s Formula One United States Grand Prix from pole position after Max Verstappen’s fastest time was deleted for breaching track limits. Here’s what you need to know:
- Leclerc topped qualifying for Ferrari at the Circuit of The Americas by 0.130 seconds ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris, who will start second on the grid.
- World champion Verstappen set a lap that was 0.005 seconds faster than Leclerc’s pole time, but went outside of track limits at the final corner.
- It meant Verstappen’s lap time was deleted, dropping him to sixth place on the grid for Red Bull.
What Leclerc said
“As a team, we did a great job,” Leclerc said after taking pole. “We had a strong base thanks to the work the guys had done to prepare this weekend with the car straightaway feeling good. I was feeling good. I was happy throughout qualifying.
“The last lap in Q3, there were a (few) mistakes here and there, but I think it wasn’t easy for everybody. I’m really happy we’re starting on pole for Sunday.”
How track limits cost Verstappen
A mistake of millimeters proved costly for Max Verstappen in Austin.
At the penultimate corner, where the drivers carry a lot of speed through and tend to naturally run quite wide, Verstappen narrowly went too far over the white line. It meant 20 seconds after his time went to the top of the leaderboard, it was wiped and caused the order to shuffle, dropping him back to sixth by the time all the final laps had come through.
“I knew in Turn 19 that it was going to be a close call,” Verstappen explained. “I had a little mistake in Turn 1 so I had to really push for it in the rest of the lap. It’s fine margins.”
Verstappen’s mistake should not take anything away from Leclerc’s performance. The Ferrari driver has established himself as a qualifying specialist — this is the 21st pole of his career; he has just five wins — capable of producing magic laps when it matters.
Leclerc built his pace up right through qualifying and gained almost half a second on his final lap, despite feeling he’d made a few mistakes on his final effort. Leclerc admitted in the press conference after qualifying: “It was a surprise for us. We definitely did not expect to be fighting for pole position here.”
Ferrari accidentally scared Leclerc when his engineer informed him Verstappen’s lap had been deleted. “I just had a heart attack, because my engineer told me ‘track limits…’, and then ‘…for Verstappen,’” Leclerc said, admitting he punched his steering wheel and helmet. “I heard ‘…for Verstappen’ and then I thought, OK, that’s better news for us!
“That’s why in the moment, I said please tell me the name before the track limits, just so I don’t get too excited.”
With Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton for company on the uphill run to the tight first corner, Leclerc is braced for a close battle. Norris said he was surprised to have been so close to pole, believing a couple of errors may have cost him P1. In four of the last five years, the driver starting second in Austin has been leading at the end of the first lap.
After qualifying third for Mercedes, seven-time world champion Hamilton hailed Mercedes’ improvements in Austin thanks to the new floor that debuted on Friday. He said the car felt like it had “leveled up pretty much everywhere” and that it was “one of the first updates I have actually felt” in the past two years.
It also gave Hamilton hope of fighting for a record-extending seventh victory on American soil. “Maybe with the Red Bull out of the top three, maybe that makes it a better, closer battle,” Hamilton said. “Hopefully the three of us can have a tight battle.”
But given their dominance through 2023, Leclerc felt it was impossible to rule out Verstappen or Red Bull. “Red Bull is always very strong, and Max this year is always on it,” Leclerc said. “For sure, he will be a threat and up there tomorrow.”
Verstappen has won from as far back as ninth on the grid this year, and took this small setback in his stride.
“Of course it’s a bit unfortunate,” he said. “But it makes the Sunday also a bit more fun.” — Luke Smith, senior Formula 1 writer
Provisional United States GP qualifying results
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
- Lando Norris (McLaren)
- Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
- Carlos Sainz (Ferrari)
- George Russell (Mercedes)
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
- Pierre Gasly (Alpine)
- Esteban Ocon (Alpine)
- Sergio Pérez (Red Bull)
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
- Yuki Tsunoda (AlphaTauri)
- Zhou Guanyu (Alfa Romeo)
- Valtteri Bottas (Alfa Romeo)
- Kevin Magnussen (Haas)
- Daniel Ricciardo (AlphaTauri)
- Nico Hülkenberg (Haas)
- Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
- Alex Albon (Williams)
- Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)
- Logan Sargeant (Williams)
Required reading
(Photo: Clive Mason – Formula 1 / Formula 1 via Getty Images)
Austin, TX
Bread winners: 10 Austin bakeries you'll love
Craving something sweet? Maybe something flaky? Austin may be known for tacos and barbecue, but its bakeries are the unsung heroes of the local food scene. We think it’s time to give them the spotlight they deserve.
Whether you’re looking for pastries by day or celebratory cakes by night, these locally owned bakeries are proof that life is butter with carbs.
Comadre Panadería, 1204 Cedar Ave. | Try something new at this Mexican-American bakery (which is a two-time James Beard semi-finalist) like the highly raved-about concha and pink cake.
La Pâtisserie, multiple locations | A case full of colorful macarons is the main attraction at this French bakery, which also offers pastries, cake, scones, buns, croissants, and wine.
Quack’s Bakery, multiple locations | Keeping Austin sweet since 1983, these beloved bakeries make pies, cakes, pastries, and more from scratch with no additives. Be sure to check out seasonal offerings like Pride, Halloween, and Christmas-themed cookies.
Rockman Coffee + Bakeshop, 2400 E. Cesar Chavez St., Ste. #200 | Owned by award-winning pastry chef Amanda Rockman, this newly opened bakeshop is all about caffeine, gluten, butter, sugar, and booze. Grab a rip ‘n’ dip bagel, strawberry cheesecake croissant, or focaccia sandwich.
Sour Duck Market, 1814 E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. | The neighborhood bakery within this American restaurant + beer garden is not to be missed. Snag a traditional bite like a savory Danish pastry or a creative concoction like the sweet potato-chai bearclaw.
Sugar Mama’s Bakeshop, 1905 S. 1st St. | Desserts are king at this sugary locale that offers classic cupcakes, cookies, lemon + pecan bars, cakes, and mini-pies in-store, with custom offerings available for larger orders.
Texas French Bread, 2900 Rio Grande St. | Currently housed in an Airstream trailer, this small but mighty bakery (serving Austinites since 1981) sells goods on a first-come, first-served basis. You’ll have to visit in person to see the full menu of bread, pastries, and sweets available each day.
Upper Crust Bakery, 4508 Burnet Rd. | This family-owned scratch bakery has it all, whether you want a cup of coffee and a pastry, a smoked turkey sandwich for lunch, or a layered cake to take home and enjoy.
Walton’s Fancy & Staple, 609 W. 6th St. | Amid a cluster of bars on West 6th Street, this bakery + deli owned by Sandra Bullock is a beacon of sweetness. Its pastries and sweet treats are made daily, but you can also order custom cakes.
Zucchini Kill Bakery, multiple locations | Calling all vegan, gluten, and soy-free folks with a sweet tooth. This woman-owned bakery is a haven for those with dietary restrictions and incorporates the spirit of punk music into its delicacies.
What’s your favorite bakery in Austin? Let us know and we might add it to this list in the future.
Austin, TX
Texas Longhorns Release First Injury Report vs. Kentucky Wildcats
AUSTIN — The Texas Longhorns and Kentucky Wildcats have released their initial student-athlete availability report ahead of Saturday’s meeting in Austin.
Texas is listing receiver DeAndre Moore Jr. as questionable due to a foot injury while linebacker Morice Blackwell Jr. is questionable after sitting out for the 20-10 win over the Arkansas Razorbacks last week.
“He’s progressing this week,” Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian said of Moore Jr. during Wednesday’s SEC Weekly Teleconference. “We’ll see if he’ll be ready to go here Saturday, but we’re surely a better team when he’s out there.”
Fortunately for Texas, running back Jaydon Blue was not listed on the report after being seen in a sling following the Arkansas game.
Here’s the full report for both teams:
Sarkisian provided an injury update on Moore Jr., Blue and Blackwell Jr. on Monday during his weekly press conference.
“I think Blue’s good,” Sarkisian said. “Like I said, he went with us today and worked this morning. So we’ll see how it goes. … Mo Blackwell was out last week. … I’m hopeful we can get him back this week. We’ll see how it goes. … DeAndre got nicked up during the game with a foot injury. Again, those two guys (Blackwell) are integral parts to our program, not only on offense and defense, but on special teams. They’re critical. So hopefully we get both those guys back.”
No. 3 Texas and Kentucky will kick off from DKR on Saturday at
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Austin, TX
UT Energy Expertise To Guide New Gulf Coast Hydrogen Hub, Bolster U.S. Energy Supply
AUSTIN, Texas — The University of Texas at Austin will partner with industry and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations to build and expand a hub for hydrogen energy production along the Texas Gulf Coast that will help increase and diversify the nation’s energy supply. UT serves as founding member and lead academic organization.
The HyVelocity Hub (HyV), a regional energy consortium, aims to become the largest hydrogen hub in the nation. It will leverage the region’s high concentration of existing hydrogen production and end-use assets to develop low-carbon intensity hydrogen that can power trucks, industrial processes, ammonia production, refining and petrochemical production, and marine shipping fuel.
“Texas is the nation’s energy capital, and UT is the energy university, and we are no stranger to playing a leading role in America’s energy innovation,” said UT President Jay Hartzell. “The success of the HyVelocity Hydrogen Hub is critical to our nation’s future energy security. We are excited to work with our industry partners and apply our vast energy, business and policy expertise to develop the hydrogen workforce and accelerate production along the Gulf Coast.”
UT will provide expertise to support community benefits activities and hydrogen workforce development efforts. UT, through the IC2 Institute and the RESET lab in the Cockrell School of Engineering, has a significant track record of working with over 80 communities in Texas and bordering states to understand community needs and connect these to economic development initiatives to improve the lives of all community members. The hydrogen proto-hub demonstration facility at the Center for Electromechanics will serve as a key resource for hands-on workforce training activities. UT researchers will also conduct life-cycle and techno-economic analyses for the projects. For example, they will provide the analyses required for meeting emissions criteria, clean hydrogen standards, and cost benchmarks, and will report these data to the Department of Energy.
“UT Austin’s role in the HyVelocity Hydrogen Hub will be vital to both providing the research and expertise needed to accelerate the global market for hydrogen, and to developing the workforce needed to support the industry’s advancement over the long term in Texas and the Gulf Coast,” said Brian Korgel, the Rashid Engineering Regents Chair Professor in the McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering and the director of the UT Energy Institute. “We are proud to be part of this important project that will advance secure and sustainable energy in the U.S. and all over the world.”
HyV’s work will be at the forefront of maintaining and expanding Texas as a global leader in hydrogen energy development. With $22 million in the first tranche of funding, HyVelocity is expected to create up to 45,000 well-paying jobs over its lifetime and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 7 million metric tons per year — equivalent to the annual emissions of more than 1.5 million gasoline-powered cars. The Department of Energy is investing $1.2 billion in the project.
As the nation’s premier university for energy innovation and excellence, UT brings an unmatched scale, depth and breadth of expertise and a pragmatic approach to advancing solutions across the full spectrum of energy. Situated in the heart of Texas, UT is in the center of the energy capital of the world. The University boasts numerous top-10 academic programs and a vast community of minds spanning a multitude of energy departments, centers and institutes. UT’s extensive industry partnerships and field research extend from the oil fields of West Texas to the other side of the world, with faculty, students and staff engaged in applied research in hydrogen, carbon capture, wind, solar, batteries and more.
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