Ferrari top every Austin practice but fade to row two and three in US Grand Prix qualifying
Leclerc led FP1 and FP2 and Hamilton topped FP3, but Ferrari qualified fourth and fifth at COTA after a small floor upgrade on the SF-26.
Ferrari ended Friday and Saturday morning at the top of every timesheet at the Circuit of the Americas, but when qualifying for the United States Grand Prix came down to the final laps, Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton had to settle for fourth and fifth. The result leaves the Italian team chasing Mercedes and Red Bull from the second and third rows in Sunday's race, which starts at 4am on Monday, 26 October, Malaysia time.
A clean sweep of practice
Leclerc set the pace in first practice with a 1:36.0, 0.084 seconds ahead of Max Verstappen, after the Red Bull driver lost a faster lap to track limits at Turn 19. He was quickest again in the second session, with championship leader Kimi Antonelli just 0.042s behind and Verstappen about two tenths back.
Hamilton then led final practice on Saturday with a 1:34.893, 0.168s clear of Verstappen, with Leclerc third and Antonelli fourth. It completed a full sweep of the practice sessions for Ferrari, an unusual run for a team that has spent much of 2026 behind Mercedes.
Even so, Leclerc warned on Friday that Verstappen and Antonelli had more performance to unlock. That proved accurate.
Qualifying slips away
In Q3, Antonelli took pole with a 1:34.035, Verstappen was 0.179s back and Isack Hadjar put the second Red Bull third. Leclerc was 0.232s off pole in fourth and Hamilton 0.276s away in fifth, only 0.044s behind his teammate. The gaps were small, but the order changed at the point that mattered, as Ferrari's rivals found more speed on their final runs.
Track limits had also been a recurring problem for Ferrari during practice. Leclerc lost laps for exceeding the limits in final practice, a wider issue at COTA after 128 laps were deleted in the second session alone.
A modest upgrade
Ferrari brought a revised floor to the SF-26 for Austin. Earlier reports had pointed to a bigger package, but both drivers played down its effect. Hamilton estimated the gain at about half a tenth of a second per lap and doubted it would close the gap to the front. "I don't think this allows us to make a big enough step," he said before the weekend. Team principal Fred Vasseur said its impact was a bit less than at the start of the season, and Leclerc also advised against high expectations.
Why Hamilton's race matters
Hamilton is third in the drivers' championship on 229 points, 111 behind Antonelli. That makes him one of two drivers, along with George Russell, who can still stop Antonelli from clinching the title on Sunday. If Antonelli wins, Hamilton needs to finish fourth or higher to keep the championship alive. Starting fifth, one place behind Leclerc, he will need to gain at least one position on track. Russell, starting sixth, needs eighth or better.
In the constructors' standings Ferrari sit second with 444 points, a long way behind Mercedes on 578 but comfortably ahead of McLaren on 339.
Key takeaways
- Ferrari topped all three practice sessions in Austin: Leclerc in FP1 and FP2, Hamilton in FP3.
- In qualifying Leclerc was fourth and Hamilton fifth, just over two tenths off pole.
- Ferrari's floor upgrade was described by Hamilton as worth about half a tenth.
- Hamilton must finish fourth or higher to stop Antonelli clinching if the Mercedes driver wins.
- The race starts at 4am Monday, Malaysia time.
FAQ
Where do the Ferraris start the 2026 US Grand Prix? Charles Leclerc starts fourth and Lewis Hamilton fifth.
What upgrade did Ferrari bring to Austin? A revised floor for the SF-26, which Hamilton estimated was worth about half a tenth per lap.
Can Hamilton still stop Antonelli winning the title in Austin? Yes. If Antonelli wins, Hamilton finishing fourth or better would keep the title fight going to Mexico.
Sources: Formula1.com, Yahoo Sports, F1ingenerale, GrandPrix247, GPFans, Grande Premio