F1 US GP LIVE: Friday practice updates from COTA
Crash.net • • sports
Key Points:
- Charles Leclerc topped the opening practice session (FP1) at the 2026 F1 US GP at the Circuit of the Americas, with Max Verstappen and Lando Norris following closely behind.
- In Practice 2 (FP2), Verstappen initially set the pace before Leclerc took the lead after early soft tyre runs; an incident between George Russell and Leclerc was also noted.
- Andrea Kimi Antonelli, leading the championship by 102 points, finished fifth in FP1 but has not won a race since September, while Verstappen has won the last two races and remains a strong contender.
- Both Verstappen and Norris criticized the bumpy track surface at COTA, with Norris mentioning headaches caused by the bumps despite their competitive practice performances.
- The 18th round at COTA offers Antonelli a chance to clinch the championship early, needing a 125-point lead after Sunday's race with five races remaining.
