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 quicker lap on the softs 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. Oscar Piastri was seventh in the second McLaren.
Sky Sports F1’s Martin Brundle said: “It does look so close at the front.
“McLaren look in there too, Mercedes found some time. Ferrari you’d have to say just had an ounce of an advantage but it is early doors.”
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Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto was the top midfield runner with the eighth-fastest time although he faces a back-of-the-grid start in Sunday’s race after taking two engine elements beyond the season’s penalty-free allowance.
Arvid Lindblad was ninth for Racing Bulls in a session the team introduced a sixth internal combustion engine into his car, triggering a five-place grid penalty for the race. Liam Lawson was 10th quickest in the second Racing Bulls.
Williams finished 19th with Carlos Sainz and 22nd with Alex Albon, who did not set a lap time, as the team opted to spend the session running an aerodynamic testing programme to aid car development for this and next year.
Second practice follows on Friday night at 10pm, live on Sky Sports F1 and Sky Sports Main Event.
Sky Sports F1’s live United States GP schedule
Friday October 23
9.45pm: United States Grand Prix Practice Two (session starts at 10pm)*
11.50pm: F1 Academy Race 1*
Saturday October 24
6.15pm: 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 25
5pm: F1 Academy Race 3
6.30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: United States GP build-up*
8pm: THE UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX*
10pm: Chequered Flag: United States GP reaction
11pm: 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