Leclerc sweeps US Grand Prix practice sessions, Ferrari lock in Friday double

Charles Leclerc delivered a dominant performance at the United States Grand Prix weekend, topping both Friday practice sessions at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA). In the second practice session, the Monegasque driver edged out rookie Kimi Antonelli by a narrow margin, completing a Friday "double" for Ferrari, as reported by Sky Sports.

Practice 1: Leclerc leads the way

Leclerc set the fastest lap in the opening practice with a time that placed him comfortably ahead of the field. His pace signalled that Ferrari have found good balance on the 5.513‑km track, a circuit that demands a strong aerodynamic package and precise tyre management. The Italian driver’s lap was roughly half a second quicker than the next‑best time, underscoring his confidence ahead of qualifying.

Practice 2: Antonelli challenges, but Leclerc holds on

The second practice session saw a surprising challenge from Ferrari’s young test driver Kimi Antonelli, who posted a time just a fraction slower than Leclerc’s. Antonelli’s performance highlighted the depth of Ferrari’s driver line‑up, but the seasoned Leclerc retained the top spot, reinforcing his status as the team’s lead driver for the weekend.

Both sessions were marked by a mix of dry and slightly damp conditions, with teams using the time to fine‑tune their aerodynamic setups and experiment with tyre strategies for the race. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton were also in the mix, but neither could break Ferrari’s one‑two dominance in the practice runs.

For India: The United States Grand Prix will be broadcast live on FanCode with commentary in English and Hindi. The race starts at 19:00 IST on Sunday, 22 October, and the practice sessions will be shown at 10:30 IST (Practice 1) and 14:30 IST (Practice 2) on Friday. Indian fans can also follow live timing on the official F1 app, which provides session‑by‑session updates in IST.

Source: Sky Sports