18:41
Hamilton blew the last two corners on his latest lap but went fastest anyway by 0.195s over Leclerc.
Isack Hadjar and Arvid Lindblad
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F1 US GP LIVE: Friday practice updates from COTA
Live updates from the Friday practice sessions at the F1 US GP at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas.
Live coverage of Friday's practice sessions at the 2026 F1 US GP at the Circuit of the Americas. Practice 1 is due to start at 12:30 local time, with Practice 2 coming up later on at 16:00.
Key Moments
- Leclerc tops FP1 ahead of Verstappen, Norris
- Leclerc maintains Ferrari advantage as soft runs begin
- Ferrari leads FP1 early as Verstappen complains of steering issues
The Circuit of the Americas hosts the 18th round of this season's Formula 1 World Championship, which will also be the first opportunity for Andrea Kimi Antonelli to wrap up this year's title. The Italian leads the standings by 102 points over George Russell after a disastrous Singapore weekend for the British driver, but would need to be 125 clear after Sunday's race to be crowned champion with five races remaining.
Antonelli has won eight races this year, more than any other driver, but hasn't stood on the top step since he won in Madrid back in September. In the meantime, Max Verstappen has become F1's in-form driver, winning the last two races. Only a pair of DNFs have prevented a 100 per cent podium record for Verstappen since June's Austrian Grand Prix, and the Dutchman is the defending COTA winner, to butcher an Americanism.
In fact, Verstappen's COTA record is excellent, he hasn't finished off the podium in Texas since 2017, but that hasn't stopped him from berating the track surface ahead of this weekend's race. Reigning champion Lando Norris joined in with the criticism, the British driver saying he needs headache tablets to cope with the bumps.
McLaren and Red Bull are among the teams introducing updates this weekend. Ferrari also has some new parts for COTA, but none that had Lewis Hamilton too enthusiastic about their potential impact on performance when he spoke ahead of the weekend.
23 Oct 2026
18:40
1m37.430s puts Leclerc back on top by 0.610s from Verstappen.
Mediums for both Ferraris and McLarens to start with, hards for Mercedes and Red Bull.
18:39
Norris to the top of the times now, 1m38.715s. Hamilton was briefly second but he's had his time deleted - won't be the last we see of that this weekend.
18:37
Verstappen complaining about something "not free" in the steering column over the radio, seemingly an issue that is affecting him more in left-handers - this is an anti-clockwise layout.
Tom Hart is on the other end of the phone for him this weekend, a look ahead to the future when Gianpiero Lambiase leaves at the end of this season.
18:35
Leclerc sets the early benchmark at a 1m39.152s. Medium tyres for him, Verstappen second on hard, 0.279s splitting them after one lap.
18:30
FP1 start
Pit lane has opened at COTA and we are underway for FP1. Several drivers heading straight out, led by Colapinto.
Herta in for this FP1 session at Cadillac and he's straight out with a sizeable aero rake.
18:21
Low grip mode test
This just in from the FIA, a test will be run at the end of FP1 for a new low grip mode software update:
"As part of the ongoing refinements to the Power Unit software for low grip mode, the FIA together with the teams and Power Unit manufacturers will run a simulation at the end of FP1, with cars running on low grip mode, using specific driver inputs during the in-lap to test additional software protections. This will mean that cars will be running for a short distance at low speed at Turn 15 at the end of the session."
18:19
Track surface issues
COTA's track surface has developed a reputation for its roughness over the last 14 years since it debuted in F1. Criticism has been especially brutal this weekend, with both Max Verstappen and Lando Norris weighing in on the subject yesterday.
Verstappen said the bumps are "out of control", while Norris reckons the surface isn't up to modern standards for F1.
COTA's track surface is notoriously bumpy
18:09
Can Antonelli win the title early?
Kimi Antonelli has a mathematical title chance this weekend, although it's a long shot.
He's currently 102 points clear and needs to be 125 clear after this weekend to be champion, with five races remaining in 2026 after the US GP.
All you need to know about how Antonelli can be champion here.
Kimi Antonelli has won his maiden F1 world championship
18:04
Welcome to live coverage of today's practices from the US GP at the Circuit of the Americas. Practice 1 is just under half-an-hour away.