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US Grand Prix 2026: Leclerc tops Austin practice as Antonelli eyes title
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In brief
Charles Leclerc set the fastest times in both Friday practice sessions for the 2026 United States Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas, ahead of Max Verstappen and Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli. Qualifying is scheduled for Saturday and the race for Sunday, with Antonelli holding a 102-point championship lead that could, under a narrow set of results, be clinched in Austin.
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc was the fastest driver in both Friday practice sessions for the 2026 United States Grand Prix, held at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas, according to Formula 1's official session reports.
In first practice (FP1), Leclerc posted a 1:36.052, finishing 0.084 seconds ahead of Red Bull's Max Verstappen, who had a faster lap of 1:35.862 deleted for exceeding track limits at Turn 19. McLaren's Lando Norris was third, 0.245s off the pace.
FP2: Leclerc, Antonelli and Verstappen set the pace
Leclerc remained fastest in the afternoon's FP2 session with a 1:35.291. Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli was second, just 0.042s behind, with Verstappen third at +0.189s. Leclerc's Ferrari teammate Lewis Hamilton was fourth and Mercedes' George Russell fifth, per Formula 1's report.
Several drivers had lap times deleted for track-limits infringements during the two sessions, including Hamilton, Racing Bulls' Isack Hadjar and Antonelli. Stewards investigated Russell for forcing Leclerc off track during FP2 but decided no further action was needed, Formula 1 reported.
How the Spanish drivers fared
Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso was a notable presence in the midfield in FP1, finishing 12th in 1:37.688, with teammate Lance Stroll close behind in 13th, according to Spanish outlet Motorsport.com.
Williams driver Carlos Sainz had a difficult session, finishing 19th after his team spent much of FP1 running limited laps as part of what Motorsport.com described as extensive testing geared toward the 2027 regulations. Sainz set his first timed lap only nine minutes before the session ended, recording 1:38.846, the outlet reported.
Championship context: Antonelli's path to the title
Antonelli arrives in Austin leading the 2026 drivers' championship with 340 points, 102 ahead of Mercedes teammate Russell on 238, according to Formula 1's official standings. Hamilton is third on 229, Verstappen fourth on 221 and Leclerc fifth on 215.
According to a scenario published by motorsport news site Grandprix.com, Antonelli can mathematically clinch the title this weekend only if three conditions are all met: he wins the race, Russell finishes ninth or lower, and Hamilton finishes fifth or lower. A win would take Antonelli to 365 points, opening a 125-point gap that none of his rivals could close with five races left, the outlet said. If any one of the three conditions is not met, the championship stays open beyond Austin.
| Position | Driver | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 340 |
| 2 | George Russell | Mercedes | 238 |
| 3 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 229 |
| 4 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing | 221 |
| 5 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 215 |
What happens next
The Austin weekend follows the traditional three-practice, single-qualifying format rather than a sprint. Free Practice 3 is scheduled for Saturday at 12:30 p.m. local time (CDT), followed by qualifying at 4 p.m. local time the same day, and the Grand Prix on Sunday at 3 p.m. local time, according to Formula 1's own session schedule.
Formal qualifying and race results for the 2026 United States Grand Prix were not yet available from verified sources at the time of writing; this report reflects confirmed Friday practice results and the championship picture heading into Saturday's session.
Questions
- Who was fastest in practice for the 2026 US Grand Prix?
- Ferrari's Charles Leclerc topped both Friday practice sessions at Circuit of the Americas, ahead of Max Verstappen in FP1 and Kimi Antonelli in FP2, according to Formula 1's official reports.
- Can Kimi Antonelli clinch the F1 title in Austin?
- Only under a narrow scenario: according to Grandprix.com, Antonelli must win the race, Russell must finish ninth or lower, and Hamilton must finish fifth or lower, all at the same time.
- How did Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz perform in practice?
- Alonso was 12th for Aston Martin in FP1 (1:37.688), while Williams' Carlos Sainz struggled to 19th as his team prioritised testing for the 2027 regulations, according to Motorsport.com.
- When is qualifying and the race at the 2026 United States Grand Prix?
- Formula 1's schedule lists qualifying for Saturday at 4 p.m. local time (CDT) and the race for Sunday at 3 p.m. local time, in the traditional non-sprint format.
- What is Kimi Antonelli's championship lead going into Austin?
- Antonelli leads with 340 points, 102 ahead of second-placed George Russell (238), according to Formula 1's official 2026 drivers' standings.
How the world is telling it
- SpanishSpanish-language coverage (Motorsport.com) focused heavily on the performance of Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz, framing Williams' limited running as a deliberate sacrifice of the Austin weekend in favour of 2027 car development.
Sources
- Formula1.com — FP2: Leclerc sets the pace from Antonelli and Verstappen in second practice at United States Grand Prix
- Formula1.com — FP1: Leclerc fastest in first practice for the United States GP ahead of Verstappen and Norris
- Motorsport.com (Spanish) — Leclerc lidera la FP1 de Austin con Verstappen al acecho; Aston sorprende y Sainz sufre
- Grandprix.com — How Antonelli can clinch the 2026 title in Austin
- Formula1.com — 2026 Drivers' Championship standings
- ESPN — United States Grand Prix 2026: Race start time in Austin, how to watch, full schedule, predictions
This piece was prepared with artificial intelligence and passed an automated source check before publication. If you see an error, ask for a correction. Request a correction or reply · How we make this
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