United States GP: Charles Leclerc fastest in upgraded Ferrari in first practice in Austin as Mercedes rivals introduce updates
Charles Leclerc showed early promise in an upgraded Ferrari car to pip Red Bull's in-form Max Verstappen to the fastest time of first practice at the United States Grand Prix.
Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull all introduced fresh revisions to their cars for the opening hour of running at the Circuit of the Americas, which is staging the first leg of the sport's second of three end-of-season triple headers.
Ferrari's package features changes to their car's floor, sidepod and diffuser and showed speed on both the medium and soft tyres around the undulating COTA lap, with Leclerc ultimately setting the session's pace on the latter with a best lap of 1:36.052.
Verstappen, the winner of the last two races, finished 0.084s behind Leclerc although lost a lap which was two tenths faster than the Ferrari due to a track limits violation at Turn 19.
Lando Norris was third in a McLaren car which also features changes as they bid to return to form after a difficult run of races saw them slip into the clutches of Red Bull in the Constructors' Championship battle for third.
World championship leaders Mercedes do not have fresh upgrades in Austin. But both of their drivers are back to running the package first introduced two races ago in Malaysia after George Russell reverted to the older-spec last time out in Singapore.
Russell finished fourth, 0.326s behind, in opening practice with title-leading team-mate Kimi Antonelli fifth on a weekend the Italian could clinch 2026's world title if he wins on Sunday and his team-mate and Lewis Hamilton do not score sufficient points to stay in mathematical contention.
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Hamilton was only sixth fastest in Friday's first session, half a second away from team-mate Leclerc, after his soft-tyre run did not come together.
More to follow...
Friday October 239.45pm: United States Grand Prix Practice Two (session starts at 10pm)*11.50pm: F1 Academy Race 1*
Saturday October 246.15pm: United States Grand Prix Practice Three (session starts at 6.30pm)8.30pm: United States Grand Prix Qualifying build-up*10pm: UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX QUALIFYING*12am: F1 Academy Race 2*12.45am: Ted's Qualifying Notebook*
Sunday October 255pm: F1 Academy Race 36.30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: United States GP build-up*8pm: THE UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX*10pm: Chequered Flag: United States GP reaction11pm: Ted's Notebook
*also on Sky Sports Main Event
Formula 1 heads to The Americas for another triple-header with the United States Grand Prix in Austin up first this weekend, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW - no contract, cancel anytime
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23 of October 2026
