Ferrari rules Friday at COTA as Leclerc sweeps second U.S. GP practice

Charles Leclerc swept Friday practice at the Circuit of the Americas, beating Kimi Antonelli to the fastest time in FP2 of the United States Grand Prix.

Leclerc was again the fastest in the slower and technical final sector, which offset Antonelli’s mighty middle-sector time, dominated by the long back straight. Combined with a quicker first sector, Leclerc set the benchmark at 1m 35.291s, with Antonelli 0.042s off the pace.

Max Verstappen was the only other driver within half a second of the leading pair. Quickest in the first sector, he was 0.189s off the pace.

Lewis Hamilton was fourth but slower in every sector relative to his session-topping teammate, cumulating in a 0.615s deficit.

George Russell was 0.744s off the pace on the medium tire after having his first soft-tire lap deleted for exceeding track limits at Turn 20. The better lap would have had him around 0.5s off the pace. He made a second attempt that was scuppered by a big snap through the esses, and his soft tires had had enough on his third and final shot.

Liam Lawson was an impressive sixth, separating both McLaren drivers from the other frontrunners, the Racing Bulls driver 1.040s adrift of Leclerc.

Lando Norris would have been higher up the order than seventh and 1.082s off the pace had he completed his soft lap. He had set the quickest middle sector of the afternoon up to that point but locked his rear axle into Turn 15 and slithered off track, ruining the lap. Instead his best time was logged on the hard tire.

Oscar Piastri ended the session eighth, just 0.014s further back, but was briefly up to fifth ahead of Russell before having his fastest lap deleted for exceeding track limits at Turn 20.

Isack Hadjar was ninth, 1.12s off the pace on the medium tire, ahead of Oliver Bearman, who was 1.245s adrift for Haas to complete the top 10.

Gabriel Bortoleto was 11th on mediums ahead of Pierre Gasly and Arvid Lindblad on mediums, who would have been ahead of Bortoleto had his fastest softs lap not been deleted for track limits at Turn 12.

Esteban Ocon was 14th ahead of Franco Colapinto and Aston Martin teammates Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll.

Nico Hulkenberg was 18th on mediums ahead of Valtteri Bottas, who led the way for Cadillac.

Carlos Sainz followed for Williams on mediums ahead of Sergio Perez in the second Cadillac car.

Alex Albon was visibly struggling to tame his Williams on his way to 20th.

“The car is a mess,” he radioed in frustration. His fastest lap was unrepresentative, 8.135s off the pace.

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