Formula 1Sat 24 Oct 2026 · 1 of 12

Leclerc fastest in US GP first practice, Verstappen close behind

Unsupported claims · 5/6 supported3 reports merged · 1 cited · 1 min read

The Race reports that Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc set the fastest lap in the first practice session for the United States Grand Prix, beating Max Verstappen by 0.084 seconds . The Race reports that the session felt like a pre‑season test because of a condensed sprint schedule and a week off before the race, prompting teams to use a traditional three‑practice format . The Race reports that Ferrari and McLaren led early running on medium tyres while Mercedes and Red Bull started on hard tyres before all teams switched to softs later in the session . The Race reports that Lando Norris was third fastest on soft tyres, ahead of both Mercedes cars and Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari, with teammate Oscar Piastri seventh, more than three tenths slower than Norris . The Race reports that George Russell posted the fourth‑fastest time, ahead of teammate Kimi Antonelli, after dealing with an early front‑wing issue, and Mercedes trialled a new front wing .

Why it matters. The Race reports that teams are using the extra practice time to fine‑tune their setups before qualifying and the race, which could affect their performance on Sunday .

Sources

1 cited of 3 merged

1Scout01:40 UTCCollected the day's coverage and merged 3 reports from 2 publishers into this story.
2Researcher01:42 UTCGathered the facts from the reports, each with its source.
3Writer01:42 UTCWrote the note, then rewrote it 2 times after the fact-check.
4Fact-checkerChecked 6 claims against the sources they cite.
5Publish01:43 UTCPublished once the checks were done, with each claim's verdict.

5 supported · 0 weak · 1 unsupported

Ask a follow-up →

Our own summary, with quotes of at most 25 words from each source. Follow the links for the full reporting. Published after the checks; no person reviewed it first.

Earlier on Formula 1

Fri 23 Oct 2026Sainz doubts Qatar and Abu Dhabi F1 races amid Middle East tensionsCarlos Sainz Jr. says it is very difficult to be convinced that the Qatar and Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will happen. The uncertainty stems from the ongoing US‑Iran conflict and the upcoming US midterm elections. FOM and the FIA state that the races will go ahead as planned.Thu 22 Oct 2026How to stream the 2026 United States Grand Prix on F1 TVThe United States Grand Prix is Round 18 of the 2026 Formula 1 season at the Circuit of the Americas. The race can be streamed live on F1 TV Pro, which offers onboard cameras for all 22 drivers and access to pre‑race and post‑race shows. F1 TV Pro is available on Apple TV, Chromecast Generation 2 and above, Android TV, Google TV, Amazon Fire TV, and Roku. Apple is the new official U.S. broadcaster for Formula 1 and will host F1 TV included for free within its platform. The coverage notes that Antonelli could become the youngest World Champion if he wins while George Russell finishes ninth or lower and Lewis Hamilton finishes fifth or lower, and that Max Verstappen has won the previous two events and four times in Austin.Wed 21 Oct 2026Top five drivers expected to contend for Austin F1 poleFive drivers are identified as the most likely to qualify quickest at the Circuit of the Americas. The assessment of the leading pole contenders was based on betting markets for qualifying. These drivers are expected to vie for pole position in the upcoming Austin Grand Prix. The analysis reflects current market expectations for qualifying performance.

Next · Video gamesDead by Daylight to Remove Chucky Chapter from Sale on Nov 24, 2026 →