Charles Leclerc leads US GP practice sessions in Austin

Heading into the United States Grand Prix weekend at the Circuit of the Americas, Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc dominated both practice sessions on Friday, October 24, 2026, setting a benchmark time of 1:35,291 in the second running. World Championship leader Kimi Antonelli finished just 0.042 seconds behind in his Mercedes, while Red Bull’s Max Verstappen slotted into third, 0.189 seconds adrift, according to sport.ORF.at.

The Practice Sessions and On-Track Traffic

Leclerc carried his speed over from the morning session to lead the afternoon running on the 5.513-kilometer Austin layout, having also finished on top in the morning with a time of 1:36,052. Motorsport-magazin.com reported that the second free practice saw an extraordinary 112 track limit violations called by race control, disrupting multiple drivers’ fast laps. Once on track, the young Italian watched the competition turn their laps for a few minutes before joining the action, and ultimately narrowed the gap significantly to Leclerc, trailing by less than half a tenth after ranking fifth in the morning.

Verstappen maintained a competitive pace despite continuing complaints about the venue’s physical condition, finishing just 0.084 seconds behind Leclerc in the morning before slotting in as the third-fastest runner in the afternoon. “It is one of the best layouts and one of the best places to come to, but the bumps that we have here are unacceptable,” Verstappen said regarding the circuit’s surface.

George Russell and Midfield Drivers Face Track Disruptions

While the top three cars established a clear margin, their respective teammates encountered severe disruptions. Mercedes driver George Russell endured a turbulent session that included a warning from race officials after running Arvid Lindblad wide at turn 13, nearly colliding with Leclerc on an out-lap, and impeding Fernando Alonso in the closing corners. Russell ultimately set the fifth-fastest time, while Lewis Hamilton placed fourth in the second Ferrari.

Track limit infringements dismantled the long-run simulations for several midfield competitors. McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri suffered deleted lap times, finishing seventh and eighth respectively behind Liam Lawson’s Racing Bulls machine. Williams driver Alex Albon struggled profoundly with track limits during the opening session and could only muster a 1:43,426 in the afternoon, leaving him eight seconds off Leclerc’s pace.

Antonelli Seeks First Mathematical Chance at Drivers Title

Antonelli approaches Saturday evening’s qualifying session holding his first mathematical opportunity to secure the drivers’ title, aiming to surpass Sebastian Vettel as the youngest champion in the premier class of motorsport. To seal the championship in Texas, the rookie must win Sunday’s grand prix while relying on major points drops from his nearest rivals. Mercedes teammate George Russell cannot finish higher than ninth, and Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton cannot finish above fifth if Antonelli is to claim the crown. For me, it has to be a perfect weekend, Antonelli had said ahead of the opening practice sessions, adding, And the others have to achieve a bad result, which is rather unlikely.

Qualifying is scheduled for Saturday at 23:00 local time, with Sunday’s main race getting underway at 21:00 CET. If the championship battle remains unresolved in Austin, the series moves directly to Mexico City the following week for a race on November 1 starting at 21:00.

Disclaimer: The insights provided in this article are for informational and entertainment purposes only and do not constitute medical advice or sports betting recommendations.

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