Leclerc Fastest from Antonelli in US GP Practice as Title Battle Heats Up

Charles Leclerc set the pace on Friday at the United States Grand Prix, leading both practice sessions at the Circuit of the Americas. The Ferrari driver finished the day just 0.042 seconds clear of Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli, with Max Verstappen third for Red Bull.

Leclerc’s best time of 1:35.291 in the second session completed a strong opening day for the Italian team, which introduced a significant aerodynamic upgrade package in Austin. The result places Ferrari firmly in the conversation for the weekend while the championship picture remains finely balanced.

A Clean Sweep for Leclerc

Leclerc topped the first practice session with a time of 1:36.052 before improving substantially in the afternoon. He described the day as clean and productive, noting that the upgraded car delivered a solid balance from the outset. “It has been a very clean Friday for me,” Leclerc said. “But the others seem to be gaining more than us from Friday to Saturday and seeing the little gap there is, it is not going to be so easy tomorrow.”

The Monegasque driver benefited from Ferrari’s latest floor, sidepod and diffuser changes. These updates appear to have given the SF-26 greater confidence over the demanding undulations of the Texas circuit.

Antonelli Closes In on History

Championship leader Andrea Kimi Antonelli finished a close second. The 20-year-old Italian improved markedly from fifth in the morning session and ended the day within striking distance of Leclerc. Antonelli can mathematically secure his first Formula 1 world title this weekend, but the conditions remain demanding. He must win the race while team-mate George Russell finishes no higher than ninth and Lewis Hamilton no higher than fourth.

Antonelli encountered a minor issue with a moving seat early in the second session but recovered well once the problem was resolved. His proximity to Leclerc on single-lap pace underlines Mercedes’ competitiveness after recent upgrades.

Verstappen’s Strong Impression

Max Verstappen completed the top three, 0.189 seconds adrift of Leclerc. The Red Bull driver, winner of the previous two races in Malaysia and Singapore, looked particularly impressive on longer runs. Race-simulation pace on soft tyres suggested Verstappen may hold an edge in race conditions, even if single-lap speed remains closely contested.

Verstappen has previously highlighted the severe bumps at the Circuit of the Americas as a concern for driver comfort and long-term health. The track’s high-plasticity clay base continues to create challenging vertical loads, a factor all teams must manage carefully this weekend.

Hamilton Faces Uphill Battle

Lewis Hamilton finished fourth, more than six tenths behind his team-mate. The seven-time champion reported discomfort over the bumps and admitted the car felt unsettled. His relative lack of pace compared with Leclerc raises questions about whether Ferrari can field both cars at the front on Sunday.

George Russell placed fifth for Mercedes, ahead of Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson. The McLaren duo of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri occupied seventh and eighth after the team introduced the first of three planned upgrade packages. Neither driver appeared fully satisfied with the car’s balance.

Looking Ahead to Qualifying

Friday’s results leave the order finely poised. Ferrari showed strong single-lap pace with its new package, Mercedes remains a genuine threat through Antonelli, and Red Bull’s race pace looks formidable. The bumpy nature of the circuit will continue to influence set-up choices and tyre management throughout the weekend.

Qualifying takes place on Saturday, followed by the race on Sunday. For Antonelli the stakes could hardly be higher. A victory combined with the right results elsewhere would make him the youngest Formula 1 world champion in history. Leclerc, meanwhile, will look to convert practice form into a strong grid position and a potential challenge for the win.

The opening day at the United States Grand Prix delivered a tight battle at the top and plenty of intrigue for the remainder of the weekend. With three different teams filling the top three positions in both sessions, the Circuit of the Americas is set for another competitive chapter in the 2026 season.

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