Charles Leclerc secured the fastest time in Free Practice 2 for the 2026 United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas. The Ferrari driver posted a 1:35.291 lap, marking his second consecutive session at the top of the time sheets on Friday in Austin.
Kimi Antonelli, driving for Mercedes, finished second, 0.042 seconds behind Leclerc. Max Verstappen completed the top three for Red Bull, 0.189 seconds off the leading pace.
The session saw dry and sunny conditions, with ambient temperatures reaching 28°C and track temperatures at 40°C. These conditions allowed teams to gather crucial data on both medium and soft tyre compounds.
Ferrari introduced a significant upgrade package for the COTA event. This included an updated board brace layout, a redesigned front floor leading edge, and modifications to the inboard vertical and horizontal board elements.
Further changes to the SF-26 car involved a reshaped sidepod inlet and undercut, alongside a revised diffuser. These aerodynamic updates aim to extract more efficient downforce from the car.
Leclerc’s performance, particularly strong in the final sector, aligns with the SF-26’s demonstrated single-lap pace on circuits featuring a mix of high-speed and technical sections.
Antonelli, a rookie in the 2026 season, briefly returned to the garage due to a seat issue. The Mercedes team quickly resolved the problem, allowing him to rejoin the session.
The young Italian is currently leading the championship standings and has the mathematical possibility of clinching the F1 world title this weekend. Antonelli has secured a podium finish at the British Grand Prix and has eight wins this season.
An incident involving George Russell and Leclerc occurred during the session. Russell was investigated for allegedly forcing Leclerc off the track.
Stewards reviewed the matter and determined that no further action was necessary. Both drivers were not on flying laps at the time of the encounter.
Williams continued to experience difficulties with their FW48 chassis. Alex Albon faced recurring issues with track limits, a common challenge at COTA.
The team spent a significant portion of FP1 in the garage, making FP2 critical for data collection, particularly on the soft tyre compound. Williams was the only team not to run softs in the earlier session.
The FW48 has proven difficult to set up across various track types, with team principal James Vowles acknowledging the team is behind its development targets for the year.
Carlos Sainz, a Williams driver, has previously expressed concerns regarding the car’s development and its inability to match expected performance gains.
The Circuit of the Americas, a 5.513km track with 20 turns, combines high-speed sections with technical corners. Historically, it has been a bumpy circuit, with sections resurfaced for 2026.
Track limits, especially at Turns 9, 19, and 20, remain a point of focus, with the FIA issuing pre-event briefings on strict adherence. New blue track-limit lines have been introduced.
The full results for Free Practice 2 at the 2026 United States Grand Prix are as follows:
1. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) 1:35.291
2. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) 1:35.333
3. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) 1:35.480
4. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) 1:35.906
5. George Russell (Mercedes) 1:36.035
6. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) 1:36.331
7. Lando Norris (McLaren) 1:36.373
8. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) 1:36.387
9. Isack Hadjar (Red Bull) 1:36.411
10. Oliver Bearman (Haas)
