US Grand Prix 2026 practice: Leclerc fastest in both Austin sessions
Ferrari's upgrades look promising at COTA, with title leader Antonelli second in FP2 ahead of qualifying.
Charles Leclerc topped both practice sessions for the United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of The Americas on Friday 23 October. He set 1:36.052 in FP1 and improved to 1:35.291 on soft tyres in FP2, according to Formula1.com, with Ferrari's Austin upgrades looking promising.
In FP1 Max Verstappen was 0.084s behind in second, ahead of Lando Norris, George Russell and Kimi Antonelli. Verstappen's quickest lap, a 1:35.862, was deleted for track limits at Turn 19. Gabriel Bortoleto was an eye-catching eighth for Audi, and Colton Herta drove Sergio Perez's Cadillac in the session.
FP2 was closer at the top. Antonelli finished just 0.042s behind Leclerc, with Verstappen third, Lewis Hamilton fourth and Russell fifth, followed by Liam Lawson, Norris, Oscar Piastri, Isack Hadjar and Ollie Bearman. Russell was investigated for forcing Leclerc off the track, and the stewards took no further action.
Antonelli arrived in Texas with 340 points to Russell's 238 after Singapore, a lead of 102, according to Crash. Qualifying is on Saturday and the race on Sunday 25 October, just after midnight on Monday in the UAE. The season ends at Yas Marina Circuit on Sunday 6 December.
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2026Race day Sun 6 Dec · Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi See ticketsSource: Formula1.com (FP1), Formula1.com (FP2), Crash
