During the first free practice session for the 2026 United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas, Charles Leclerc recorded the fastest time. The Ferrari driver led the session, which concluded with an unusual FIA low grip mode simulation. This test was implemented as part of ongoing refinements to the power unit software.
Leclerc initially set a benchmark of 1:36.761 before improving his time on soft tyres. Max Verstappen of Red Bull secured the second-fastest time with a 1:35.860, while McLaren’s Lando Norris finished third. Three different manufacturers were represented in the top three positions.
The FIA conducted the low grip mode simulation at the end of FP1, requiring cars to run at low speed through Turn 15 with specific driver inputs during the in-lap.
This simulation directly addresses an incident earlier in the 2026 season at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, held at Sepang.
During the formation lap at Sepang, an unexpected combination of low engine speed, low-grip conditions, wet-weather energy management settings, and the circuit’s configuration led to an unintended loss of power for several cars.
Power units experienced issues at low speeds behind the Safety Car due to FIA software energy restraints. Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton were among the drivers affected by power cuts.
One Haas and one Cadillac car came to a complete halt during the Sepang incident. The FIA responded by issuing an emergency software update to remove energy limit constraints in the affected sectors.
FIA single-seater director Nikolas Tombazis attributed the problem to a lack of wet weather testing.
Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli enters the United States Grand Prix weekend with a mathematical chance of securing the 2026 Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship.
Antonelli holds a 102-point lead over teammate George Russell. To clinch the title in Austin, he must win the Grand Prix, with Russell finishing no higher than ninth and Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton outside the top four.
At 20 years old, Antonelli would become the youngest F1 world champion, surpassing Sebastian Vettel’s 2010 record. He has accumulated eight wins and six podiums across 17 Grands Prix this season.
Colton Herta participated in FP1 for Cadillac, replacing Sergio Pérez in the MAC-26. This marked Herta’s fourth official F1 practice appearance of the 2026 season, following outings in Barcelona, Hungary, and Monza.
Herta is completing Cadillac’s mandatory young driver training sessions. He previously secured his first IndyCar victory at the Circuit of the Americas in 2019. Cadillac introduced a minor upgrade package for the underbody and cooling system at Austin.
Max Verstappen voiced strong criticism regarding the Circuit of the Americas’ track surface, describing the bumps as ‘unacceptable’ and ‘out of control’.
Verstappen stated the issue is worsening and called for a complete track resurfacing. He highlighted the severe physical toll on drivers, noting vertical loads on his spine exceeding 9G.
Lando Norris supported Verstappen’s concerns, revealing he sometimes takes headache medication before driving on particularly uneven circuits.
The persistent bumps are attributed to the circuit’s location on high-plasticity clay, which causes a shrink-swell effect with weather changes. Verstappen believes the low ride heights of current F1 cars exacerbate the problem.
Tom Hart served as Max Verstappen’s race engineer for the United States Grand Prix. This is part of a planned transition ahead of Gianpiero Lambiase’s confirmed move to McLaren as Chief Racing Officer in 2028.
Hart, previously Verstappen’s performance engineer, will assume race-engineering duties for three of the final six Grands Prix in 2026: Austin, São Paulo, and Las Vegas.
Lambiase will remain on-site to continue his senior responsibilities within Red Bull Racing.
A debate has emerged regarding whether the Ferrari SF-26 or the Red Bull RB22 is the current F1 benchmark. Isack Hadjar suggested Verstappen would have won in Singapore with a greater margin in the Ferrari.
Oscar Piastri, however, indicated that the Red Bull is the ‘most consistently quick car’. Data shows the Ferrari excels in corners but loses time on straights due to drag or power.
Red Bull’s recent resurgence has underscored the importance of electrical energy management under 2026 regulations. The RB22 has become a benchmark in recent races, with Verstappen securing victories in Malaysia and Singapore.
Mercedes introduced a major upgrade package in Malaysia, with initial results described as unclear. The team conducted a back-to-back test in Singapore, where Antonelli ran the new W17 specification and Russell used the older version.
The upgraded W17 provides increased downforce, though its delivery characteristics are complex. Mercedes confirmed Antonelli’s upgraded W17 was faster by the end of the Singapore weekend.
Both Antonelli and Russell are scheduled to run the latest-specification W17 in Austin.
Nico Hulkenberg reported ‘weird behaviour’ from his Audi power unit during FP1. Audi has experienced reliability issues in its debut 2026 season, including Hulkenberg’s car catching fire in Miami.
Red Bull introduced a new front wing and front corner at the United States Grand Prix. The front wing features an additional vane on the endplate and foot plate, designed to generate extra load and manage tyre surface temperatures.
The front corner modification addresses reliability, with a revised elastomeric gaitor profile to reduce tearing and strain at full steering lock.
