Mercedes and Red Bull Dominate First Practice at Austin

In the opening practice session of the 2026 United States Grand Prix, held at the newly constructed Circuit of the Americas in Austin, the battle for pace began with Red Bull Racing and Mercedes-AMG Petronas leading the charge. According to Sky Sports F1, Max Verstappen clocked the fastest lap of the day, setting a benchmark time that put him at the forefront of the session. His teammate Sergio Pérez followed closely, keeping the Red Bull duo in the top tier of the standings.

Mercedes was not far behind, with Lewis Hamilton and George Russell delivering strong performances. Hamilton’s lap time, recorded by Formula1.com, was the best of the Mercedes team and positioned the German driver in a competitive spot for the upcoming race. Russell’s run was equally impressive, showcasing the team’s continued development and the effectiveness of their recent upgrades.

The session saw a mix of other front‑row contenders, with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz Jr. posting solid times, while McLaren’s Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo were also in the mix, hinting at a potentially tight battle for the top ten. The data from both outlets highlighted that the track’s long straight and high‑speed corners were proving to be a true test of power and aerodynamics, favoring the teams with the most refined setups.

For Indian fans, the race will be broadcast live on FanCode, with the start time scheduled for 5:00 PM IST on Sunday, 15 October. The first practice session took place on Friday, 13 October, and the full weekend will unfold with qualifying on Saturday and the main event on Sunday. Keep an eye on the live updates from Sky Sports F1 and Formula1.com for the latest lap times, tyre choices, and any on‑track incidents that could influence the race strategy.

Source: Sky Sports F1, Formula1.com