Charles Leclerc set the early pace during Friday practice for the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix 2026, topping the timesheets in the second practice session at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin. The Ferrari driver posted a benchmark lap of 1m35.291s to narrowly edge out his rivals amid tricky grip conditions.
The afternoon session on the demanding 5.5km circuit once again proved a rigorous test for teams and drivers alike. COTA's notoriously bumpy surface and complex mix of low-speed and high-downforce corners forced engineers to chase the elusive optimal setup compromise, catching several frontrunners out as they probed the limits.
As the session reached its halfway mark, teams rolled out fresh sets of soft compound tyres for qualifying simulations. This aggressive approach immediately exposed the relentless nature of the circuit's first sector Esses. George Russell suffered a dramatic moment, momentarily losing control of his Mercedes before pulling off a remarkable save through the high-speed sequence.
Meanwhile, handling grievances plagued the McLaren camp as both drivers fought for rear stability. Lando Norris was spotted wrestling a bucking chassis before sliding off the asphalt in the final sector, while Oscar Piastri ran wide earlier in the running.
Capitalizing on clean track conditions, Leclerc delivered a stellar flyer on soft tyres to secure the top spot. The Monegasque driver fended off a charge from Andrea Kimi Antonelli who slotted into second, while Max Verstappen rounded out the top three. Read our in-depth analysis and stay updated with all the latest track action on Sportrik Media.
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