Vedtimes.com | Sports Desk
Formula One Race: Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc made an impressive start to the 2026 United States Grand Prix, topping both practice sessions on Friday at the Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas.
The Monegasque driver demonstrated strong pace throughout the day, putting Ferrari in a promising position ahead of the weekend’s competitive action.
Leclerc’s performance in the second practice session was particularly impressive, as he narrowly edged out Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli to secure the fastest lap of the session.
Leclerc Leads the Second Practice Session
Leclerc clocked a fastest lap of 1 minute 35.291 seconds to finish first in the second practice session.
Antonelli was hot on his heels, finishing just 0.042 seconds behind the Ferrari driver.
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen secured third place, while Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton finished fourth.
Mercedes driver George Russell completed the top five.
United States GP: Second Practice Results
| Position | Driver | Team |
| 1 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari |
| 2 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes |
| 3 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull |
| 4 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari |
| 5 | George Russell | Mercedes |
Ferrari Sends a Strong Message
Leclerc’s double success in Friday’s practice sessions highlights Ferrari’s promising pace at the Austin circuit.
Setting the fastest time in both sessions will provide the team with valuable confidence as preparations continue for qualifying and the Grand Prix.
However, practice results do not necessarily determine the final starting order or race outcome.
Teams will continue to analyse tyre performance, car balance and race pace before making their final preparations.
Antonelli’s narrow deficit also underlines Mercedes competitiveness, while Verstappen’s third-place finish keeps Red Bull firmly in the picture.
Hamilton’s fourth-place result gives Ferrari two drivers inside the top four, adding to the team’s encouraging start.
What to Expect Next
Attention now turns to the remaining preparations and qualifying, where drivers will battle for the best possible starting positions.
With Leclerc showing impressive speed and Antonelli close behind, the fight at the front could be intense.
The Circuit of The Americas is known for its challenging corners and demanding layout, making tyre management, qualifying performance and race strategy crucial factors.
For Ferrari, the immediate objective will be to convert Leclerc’s strong practice pace into a competitive qualifying result.
Mercedes and Red Bull, meanwhile, will look to close the gap before the main event.
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