During the Free Practice 1 session for the United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas, Charles Leclerc recorded the fastest time. His Ferrari teammate, Lewis Hamilton, had previously downplayed the team’s aerodynamic updates for the event. Leclerc’s lap time of 1:34.567 placed him at the top of the standings.
Max Verstappen secured the second-fastest time, trailing Leclerc by 0.050 seconds. Lando Norris completed the top three, just over two-tenths behind Leclerc.
Ferrari introduced a substantial aerodynamic package for the Circuit of the Americas. This included revisions to the floor body, floor board, sidepods, and diffuser.
Hamilton had initially described these upgrades as ‘very, very small,’ suggesting they would contribute less than a tenth of a second in performance. Charles Leclerc also indicated a minor step forward.
However, early indications from the first hour of running suggested a more significant impact. Ferrari’s official submissions to the FIA cited performance as the primary reason for all four upgrade areas.
The changes to the floor and sidepods focused on increasing downforce at both the front and rear of the car. They also aimed to improve energy levels and flow stability towards the rear.
Technical analysis indicates Ferrari’s SF-26 features a revised floor edge and redesigned sidepod inlets. These modifications are intended to manage turbulent air more effectively.
Engineers at Maranello focused on enhancing the interaction between the floor and the diffuser. This aims for a more consistent downforce profile across various speed ranges.
The new diffuser design has been optimized for expansion and overall geometry. This returns increased aerodynamic load efficiently, benefiting from improved onset flow quality.
Visually, the sidepod changes are the most noticeable, featuring a different shape compared to the previous specification. The new geometry is designed to improve airflow interaction with the updated floor.
Hamilton finished Free Practice 1 in sixth position, half a second off Leclerc’s fastest time. Carlos Sainz placed fourth, with George Russell fifth.
McLaren also brought performance upgrades to Austin. Their MCL38 featured new front and rear corner elements, alongside a revised diffuser.
These McLaren updates target improved high-speed stability at the Circuit of the Americas. Oscar Piastri secured eighth position in the session.
Red Bull introduced a performance upgrade to their front wing for this event. They also made reliability changes to the front suspension components.
Sergio Pérez finished seventh for Red Bull. Mercedes, conversely, did not bring any new performance parts to the Circuit of the Americas.
Mercedes focused on optimizing the setup of their existing package. Racing Bulls, however, continued their development with a new floor and engine cover for the VCARB 03.
Racing Bulls aim to solidify their position as the top midfield team. Alexander Albon placed ninth for Williams, and Pierre Gasly tenth for Alpine.
United States Grand Prix 2026 – Free Practice 1 Results:
1. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – 1:34.567
2. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – +0.050s
3. Lando Norris (McLaren) – +0.220s
4. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) – +0.350s
5. George Russell (Mercedes) – +0.480s
6. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) – +0.500s
7. Sergio Pérez (Red Bull) – +0.650s
8. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – +0.780s
9. Alexander Albon (Williams) – +1.100s
10. Pierre Gasly (Alpine) – +1.250s
