Source: Official Team Post via X
Leclerc Leads Ferrari's Friday Charge at US Grand Prix
Charles Leclerc topped both practice sessions on Friday at the United States Grand Prix, signaling Ferrari's intent. Kimi Antonelli and Max Verstappen trailed closely behind.
Charles Leclerc made a strong statement for Ferrari on Friday at the United States Grand Prix by setting the fastest times in both practice sessions. The Monegasque driver was just ahead of Mercedes' rising star Kimi Antonelli, who missed the top spot by a whisker, and Red Bull's Max Verstappen, who finished third.
In a hint of what might unfold on race day, Lando Norris was informed that Leclerc faced similar issues with the soft tyres, indicating potential challenges for the weekend.
Max Verstappen wasted no time in FP2, engaging in a lively duel with his former Red Bull teammate Liam Lawson as soon as the session began. He also managed to overtake Arvid Lindblad's Racing Bulls car, though Lindblad will face a five-place grid penalty due to a sixth Internal Combustion Engine change. Meanwhile, Gabriel Bortoleto and Franco Colapinto also face significant grid drops for similar infractions.
Verstappen initially set the pace with a 1:36.581 on medium tyres, though Mercedes' George Russell briefly took the lead with a 1:36.035. Verstappen quickly reclaimed the top spot, but not without Norris taking an adventurous line out of the final turn. The session saw a variety of tyre strategies, with teams alternating between medium and hard compounds in the first quarter.
Leclerc had a near-miss with Russell at Turn 18, resulting in a kerb-hopping maneuver from the Ferrari driver. Russell received a black and white flag for forcing Leclerc off-track, but the FIA stewards decided against further action after reviewing the incident.
As the session progressed, Antonelli made his mark by climbing to third place. The switch to soft tyres saw Verstappen extend his lead momentarily, but Leclerc's 1:35.291 lap pushed him back to the top by nearly two-tenths. Red Bull's Isack Hadjar had a tough time with his car's handling on the soft tyres, echoing Leclerc's earlier issues.
Russell's next attempt was thwarted by a dramatic slide through the esses, while Antonelli improved to second, narrowing Leclerc's lead to just 0.042 seconds. Over at Williams, Carlos Sainz was less than impressed with the car's performance, calling it a 'mess,' as both he and teammate Alex Albon languished near the bottom, alongside Cadillac. Alonso, ever the critic, sarcastically applauded Russell's driving from afar.
The final quarter of FP2 shifted focus to race simulations, with Leclerc wrapping up the day on top. Norris's team radio revealed that Leclerc's struggles on the soft tyres mirrored his own, providing a glimpse into potential race dynamics. With Antonelli solidifying second place and Verstappen rounding out the top three, the stage is set for an intriguing race weekend.