Leclerc Edges Verstappen in First Practice at Austin
Charles Leclerc was the fastest driver in the first practice session for the United States Grand Prix on Friday, 0.084 seconds ahead of Red Bull's Max Verstappen. The session took place at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, and the timing screens put Ferrari at the top of the order from the first laps.
The margin is small. Over a lap of around 90 seconds, 0.084 seconds is less than a tenth, the kind of gap that can change with one slightly cleaner corner. Practice is also a chance for teams to test parts and set-ups rather than to chase a qualifying lap, so the order can shift in later sessions.
Behind the top two, the field was packed. Lando Norris and George Russell both finished ahead of Mercedes-powered Kimi Antonelli, who was fifth, 0.481 seconds off the pace. Lewis Hamilton was sixth, ahead of McLaren's Oscar Piastri, according to BBC Sport.
Several teams brought updates to Austin, and the changes were not all the same. Mercedes reverted both of its cars to the upgraded specification it introduced in Malaysia two races ago. Ferrari took a different route and fitted a new floor, the underside panel of the car that shapes airflow and helps push it onto the track in corners.
Hamilton gave a view on the Ferrari update. He said it was worth less than a tenth of a second, around half a tenth, which is a modest gain for a part that takes time and money to design and build. Teams often judge upgrades by whether they add lap time, and Hamilton's estimate suggests this one is a step rather than a leap.
Free Practice 2 follows later on Friday, and the third practice session is on Saturday, 24 October, before qualifying settles the grid. The circuit is 5.513 kilometres long, with a mix of fast sweeps and a tight, climbing first sector that rewards a car with strong front-end grip.
Last year's race in Austin gave Verstappen a double, as he converted pole position into victory and also won the Sprint. This year the picture is more open at the top of the timing sheet, with the first practice gap between Ferrari and Red Bull measured in hundredths.
