Summary

Charlec Leclerc fastest in both US Grand Prix Friday practice sessions
Kimi Antonelli second and Max Verstappen third
Antonelli can win world title this weekend
Mercedes driver must win race with Russell ninth or lower and Hamilton fifth or lower
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Live Reporting

Lorraine McKenna

How can Antonelli win the title in Austin?published at 22:17 BST 23 October

Media caption,
How Antonelli can become F1's youngest world champion this weekend
The chances of Kimi Antonelli lifting the title in Texas are slim, but not impossible.
To be crowned the youngest world champion in Formula 1 history, the Italian has to win the United States Grand Prix on Sunday and hope George Russell finishes ninth or lower and Lewis Hamilton ends his race outside the top four.
As it stands, Antonelli is 102 points clear of Mercedes team-mate Russell in the drivers championship and 111 points ahead of third-placed Hamilton.
Verstappen quickestpublished at 22:13 BST 23 October

So Kimi Antonelli comes into the pit lane to have his seat adjusted. The 20-year-old is the only driver without a time on the board, as Mercedes team-mate George Russell improves with his latest lap on the medium compound.
Max Verstappen has also found more pace, and now the Dutchman leads Russell by 0.101 seconds at the top of the timesheets.
Image source, Getty Images

Postpublished at 22:11 BST 23 October

The medium tyre is bolted on for Max Verstappen, George Russell, Kimi Antonelli and Isack Hadjar, while Lando Norris in fifth has the hard compound on in the opening minutes of FP2.
Antonelli calls his race engineer Pete Bonnington. "The seat is moving like crazy," says the championship leader. Bono says he can do another run and the team can fix it shortly, which the Italian agrees to.
Maybe he should've come in straight away, though, as he's just been pinged for track limits and had his lap time deleted.
Image source, Getty Images
Postpublished at 22:10 BST 23 October
Harry Benjamin
BBC F1 Commentator in Austin

I've seen Kimi Antonelli walking around the paddock and heard him speaking. He seems totally unfazed, he seems so chilled.

Postpublished at 22:06 BST 23 October

Isack Hadjar in the other Red Bull already has news for his pit wall about the performance of his car. For team-mate Max Verstappen, purple sectors across the board puts the Dutchman top of the early timeheets with a 1:36.581 ahead of the Mercedes of George Russell and Kimi Antonelli.
Postpublished at 22:04 BST 23 October

Sergio Perez is back in the Cadillac cockpit following Colton Herta's rookie outing in first practice. The American team are yet to score any points in their debut Formula 1 season, so imagine if they could get off the mark on home soil in Austin? It would need a bit of a topsy-turvy race in order for that to happen, though.
Max Verstappen and Liam Lawson were quick out of the blocks for this second hour, racing each other straight from the pit lane.

Postpublished at 22:02 BST 23 October
Rebecca Clancy
F1 journalist on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra in Austin

FP1, do not read too much into it but it's certainly going in the right direction for Ferrari so far, it would seem.
Go! Go! Go!published at 22:00 BST 23 October

Second practice at the Circuit of the Americas is green.

More ways to listenpublished at 21:58 BST 23 October
BBC Sounds

The commentary team are back with us for secnd practice tonight.
To tune in, click the listen live tab at the top of the page, search for 5 Sports Extra via the BBC Sounds app or ask your smart speaker to "play 5 Sports Extra".
More insight and analysis will be available on the F1: Chequered Flag podcast today - just search 'F1' on BBC Sounds.
Lindblad, Colapinto & Bortoleto to take grid penaltiespublished at 21:56 BST 23 October

Image source, Getty Images
Racing Bulls, Alpine and Audi have made various power-unit changes to Arvid Lindblad, Franco Colapinto and Gabriel Bortoleto's cars this weekend, so the trio have all received grid penalties for Sunday's grand prix.
Rookie Lindblad will take a five-place grid drop for a sixth internal combustion engine (ICE) change, while Argentine Colapinto gets a 10-place penalty for taking a fourth control electronics unit.
For Bortoleto, the Brazilian is heading towards the back of the grid with a combined 20-place grid penalty for taking a fourth energy store unit and fourth control electronics unit.

Mercedes hoping for more performance from upgradepublished at 21:52 BST 23 October
Andrew Benson
BBC F1 correspondent in Austin

Image source, Getty Images
Mercedes have reverted both their cars to the upgraded specification that was introduced in Malaysia two races ago but about which there remain questions over its relative performance.
The team believe that the upgrade has more performance within it, but that they have not yet found the appropriate set-up to maximise it. They hope a full, 'normal' weekend with three practice sessions will enable them to hone it.
Ferrari have an upgrade here which is fundamentally a new floor.
Leclerc tops Austin first practicepublished at 21:48 BST 23 October

Image source, Getty Images
The weather in the Lone Star State was beautiful for a spot of practice running earlier on, and it was Ferrari's Charles Leclerc who edged out four-time world champion Max Verstappen by 0.084 seconds.
Reigning world champion Lando Norris was third quickest, followed by the two Mercedes of George Russell and title leader Kimi Antonelli in fourth and fifth.
The other Scuderia of Lewis Hamilton was sixth, McLaren's Oscar Piastri was seventh, and Audi's Gabriel Bortoleto and the Racing Bulls of Arvid Lindblad completed the top 10 in eighth, ninth and 10th.
Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon took a while to put a lap time down in FP1, with Williams saying their drivers were carrying out an aero testing programme to assist with development of both this year’s car and the one for next season.

Welcome backpublished at 21:45 BST 23 October
Lorraine McKenna
BBC Sport Journalist

Image source, Getty Images
Welcome back, folks. It's blanket-wearing while live-texting season now, so get yourselves cozy as we do some late-night Formula 1 watching.
First practice is already in the books at the United States Grand Prix and it was Charles Leclerc who topped the timesheets from the Red Bull of Max Verstappen.
Plenty of drivers were caught out by track limits in Austin in the opening hour, plus the bumpy nature of the American circuit was also a talking point.
Report: Leclerc sets Austin practice pace from Verstappenpublished at 19:45 BST 23 October
Andrew Benson
BBC F1 correspondent in Singapore

Image source, Getty Images
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc set the pace from Red Bull's Max Verstappen in first practice at the United States Grand Prix.
Leclerc was 0.084 seconds quicker than Verstappen at the start of the first weekend on which Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli can clinch his first world title.
The Italian was fifth fastest, 0.481secs off the pace, behind McLaren's Lando Norris and Mercedes' George Russell.
Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton was sixth ahead of McLaren's Oscar Piastri.
Antonelli will win the championship in Austin only if he wins the race and Russell finishes below eighth and Hamilton below fourth.
Read the full report here

Back for second practice at 21:45 BSTpublished at 19:44 BST 23 October

Charles Leclerc ends the first hour in Austin quickest, so it's slight advantage to the upgraded Ferrari. Second practice should give us a better idea of who will be in the mix for pole position on Saturday, but certainly Leclerc, four-time COTA winner Max Verstappen and world champion Lando Norris are looking good so far.
We'll take a short break now and then fire the live up again at 21:45 BST for FP2 build-up.
The session goes green at 22:00.
See you in a bit!
Listen: Chequered Flag US GP previewpublished at 19:41 BST 23 October

Media caption,
Could Antonelli be crowned champion? Rosanna and the team look ahead to the US Grand Prix
In this break between sessions, have a listen to the Chequered Flag team preview the Austin weekend. Rosanna Tennant is joined by Jolyon Palmer, Andrew Benson and Harry Benjamin to assess Kimi Antonelli’s chances of winning the title on Sunday, and we hear from the man himself. Plus, Haas driver Ollie Bearman drops by for a chat about life in F1, his future and his former F2 team-mate Antonelli’s remarkable rise to the top.

And the restpublished at 19:39 BST 23 October

11. Oliver Bearman (Haas)
12. Fernando ALonso (Aston Martin)
13. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)
14. Isack Hadjar (Red Bull)
15. Pierre gasly (Alpine)
16. Esteban Ocon (Haas)
17. Franco Colapinto (Alpine)
18. Nico Hulkenberg (Audi)
19. Carlos Sainz (Williams)
20. Valtteri Bottas (Cadillac)
21. Colton Herta (Cadillac)
22. Alex Albon (Williams)
Top 10published at 19:35 BST 23 October

1. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) - 1:36.052
2. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) +0.084
3. Lando Norris (McLaren) +0.245
4. George Russell (Mercedes) +0.326
5. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) +0.481
6. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) +0.503
7. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) +0.734
8. Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi) +0.943
9. Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls) +1.011
10. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) +1.257

Chequered flagpublished at 19:32 BST 23 October

That's first practice complete at the Circuit of the Americas.
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc finishes the hour quickest with a time of 1:36.052 on the soft compound.
Max Verstapen puts his Red Bull second, reigning world champion Lando Norris finishes his session in third, Mercedes' George Russell is fourth and championship leader Kimi Antonelli is fifth.
Postpublished at 19:30 BST 23 October

Charles Leclerc has the medium tyre bolted on for his long run at the end of first practice, but the five cars behind him, including Ferrari team-mate Lewis Hamilton, are sticking with the soft compound as time ticks away.
Alex Albon goes off the track for a brief moment, but it won't matter, the chequered flag is about to fall in Austin.

2026 United States Grand Prix

3rd Practice

Circuit of the Americas, 24 October 2026, 18:30

Rank	Driver	Number	Fastest Lap	Laps
1	Lewis Hamilton Ferrari	44	1:34.893	21
2	Max Verstappen Red Bull	3	1:35.061	16
3	Charles Leclerc Ferrari	16	1:35.127	20
4	Kimi Antonelli Mercedes	12	1:35.196	16
5	George Russell Mercedes	63	1:35.381	18
6	Oscar Piastri McLaren	81	1:35.531	16
7	Nico Hulkenberg Audi	27	1:35.591	19
8	Lando Norris McLaren	1	1:35.706	17
9	Pierre Gasly Alpine	10	1:35.904	24
10	Isack Hadjar Red Bull	6	1:35.930	20
11	Liam Lawson Racing Bulls	30	1:35.931	17
12	Arvid Lindblad Racing Bulls	41	1:36.081	18
13	Gabriel Bortoleto Audi	5	1:36.176	23
14	Oliver Bearman Haas	87	1:36.235	17
15	Franco Colapinto Alpine	43	1:36.251	22
16	Fernando Alonso Aston Martin	14	1:36.455	19
17	Esteban Ocon Haas	31	1:36.742	18
18	Lance Stroll Aston Martin	18	1:37.131	12
19	Alexander Albon Williams	23	1:37.668	22
20	Carlos Sainz Jnr Williams	55	1:37.711	21
21	Sergio Perez Cadillac	11	1:37.884	25
22	Valtteri Bottas Cadillac	77	1:38.765	22

Last updated 24th October 2026 at 21:06

Second Practice

Circuit of the Americas, 23 October 2026, 22:00

Rank	Driver	Number	Fastest Lap	Laps
1	Charles Leclerc Ferrari	16	1:35.291	30
2	Kimi Antonelli Mercedes	12	1:35.333	25
3	Max Verstappen Red Bull	3	1:35.480	24
4	Lewis Hamilton Ferrari	44	1:35.906	26
5	George Russell Mercedes	63	1:36.035	27
6	Liam Lawson Racing Bulls	30	1:36.331	27
7	Lando Norris McLaren	1	1:36.373	27
8	Oscar Piastri McLaren	81	1:36.387	27
9	Isack Hadjar Red Bull	6	1:36.411	24
10	Oliver Bearman Haas	87	1:36.536	28
11	Gabriel Bortoleto Audi	5	1:36.832	27
12	Pierre Gasly Alpine	10	1:36.840	27
13	Arvid Lindblad Racing Bulls	41	1:36.959	29
14	Esteban Ocon Haas	31	1:37.111	26
15	Franco Colapinto Alpine	43	1:37.201	32
16	Fernando Alonso Aston Martin	14	1:37.235	26
17	Lance Stroll Aston Martin	18	1:37.269	28
18	Nico Hulkenberg Audi	27	1:37.430	26
19	Valtteri Bottas Cadillac	77	1:38.422	24
20	Carlos Sainz Jnr Williams	55	1:38.446	28
21	Sergio Perez Cadillac	11	1:39.036	24
22	Alexander Albon Williams	23	1:43.426	27

Last updated 23rd October 2026 at 23:11

First Practice

Circuit of the Americas, 23 October 2026, 18:30

Rank	Driver	Number	Fastest Lap	Laps
1	Charles Leclerc Ferrari	16	1:36.052	26
2	Max Verstappen Red Bull	3	1:36.136	25
3	Lando Norris McLaren	1	1:36.297	22
4	George Russell Mercedes	63	1:36.378	26
5	Kimi Antonelli Mercedes	12	1:36.533	25
6	Lewis Hamilton Ferrari	44	1:36.555	23
7	Oscar Piastri McLaren	81	1:36.786	23
8	Gabriel Bortoleto Audi	5	1:36.995	23
9	Arvid Lindblad Racing Bulls	41	1:37.063	26
10	Liam Lawson Racing Bulls	30	1:37.309	22
11	Oliver Bearman Haas	87	1:37.665	23
12	Fernando Alonso Aston Martin	14	1:37.688	22
13	Lance Stroll Aston Martin	18	1:37.783	25
14	Isack Hadjar Red Bull	6	1:37.790	23
15	Pierre Gasly Alpine	10	1:37.801	23
16	Esteban Ocon Haas	31	1:37.896	26
17	Franco Colapinto Alpine	43	1:38.121	23
18	Nico Hulkenberg Audi	27	1:38.122	21
19	Carlos Sainz Jnr Williams	55	1:38.846	19
20	Valtteri Bottas Cadillac	77	1:39.053	21
21	Colton Herta Cadillac	25	1:39.979	21
22	Alexander Albon Williams	23	2:16.468	19

Last updated 23rd October 2026 at 19:38

Qualification

Circuit of the Americas, 24 October 2026, 22:00

= Fastest lap

Rank	Driver	Number	Qualifying 1	Qualifying 1	Qualifying 2	Qualifying 2	Qualifying 3	Qualifying 3	Time
1	Kimi Antonelli Mercedes	12	1:35.390	1:35.390	1:34.278	1:34.278	fastest lap 1:34.035	fastest lap 1:34.035	Qualifying 3, fastest lap 1:34.035
2	Max Verstappen Red Bull	3	1:35.215	1:35.215	1:34.471	1:34.471	1:34.214	1:34.214	Qualifying 3, 1:34.214
3	Isack Hadjar Red Bull	6	1:35.286	1:35.286	1:34.887	1:34.887	1:34.250	1:34.250	Qualifying 3, 1:34.250
4	Charles Leclerc Ferrari	16	1:35.200	1:35.200	fastest lap 1:34.198	fastest lap 1:34.198	1:34.267	1:34.267	Qualifying 3, 1:34.267
5	Lewis Hamilton Ferrari	44	1:35.355	1:35.355	1:34.833	1:34.833	1:34.311	1:34.311	Qualifying 3, 1:34.311
6	George Russell Mercedes	63	1:35.730	1:35.730	1:34.305	1:34.305	1:34.476	1:34.476	Qualifying 3, 1:34.476
7	Oscar Piastri McLaren	81	1:35.842	1:35.842	1:34.818	1:34.818	1:34.803	1:34.803	Qualifying 3, 1:34.803
8	Lando Norris McLaren	1	fastest lap 1:35.029	fastest lap 1:35.029	1:34.539	1:34.539	1:35.049	1:35.049	Qualifying 3, 1:35.049
9	Arvid Lindblad Racing Bulls	41	1:35.755	1:35.755	1:34.950	1:34.950	1:36.049	1:36.049	Qualifying 3, 1:36.049
10	Liam Lawson Racing Bulls	30	1:35.662	1:35.662	1:35.058	1:35.058	not available	not available	Qualifying 2, 1:35.058
11	Pierre Gasly Alpine	10	1:35.969	1:35.969	1:35.080	1:35.080	not available	not available	Qualifying 2, 1:35.080
12	Nico Hulkenberg Audi	27	1:35.704	1:35.704	1:35.158	1:35.158	not available	not available	Qualifying 2, 1:35.158
13	Gabriel Bortoleto Audi	5	1:35.632	1:35.632	1:35.691	1:35.691	not available	not available	Qualifying 2, 1:35.691
14	Franco Colapinto Alpine	43	1:35.898	1:35.898	1:35.722	1:35.722	not available	not available	Qualifying 2, 1:35.722
15	Fernando Alonso Aston Martin	14	1:36.240	1:36.240	1:35.818	1:35.818	not available	not available	Qualifying 2, 1:35.818
16	Oliver Bearman Haas	87	1:36.175	1:36.175	1:36.031	1:36.031	not available	not available	Qualifying 2, 1:36.031
17	Esteban Ocon Haas	31	1:36.531	1:36.531	not available	not available	not available	not available	Qualifying 1, 1:36.531
18	Lance Stroll Aston Martin	18	1:36.677	1:36.677	not available	not available	not available	not available	Qualifying 1, 1:36.677
19	Carlos Sainz Jnr Williams	55	1:36.770	1:36.770	not available	not available	not available	not available	Qualifying 1, 1:36.770
20	Alexander Albon Williams	23	1:36.967	1:36.967	not available	not available	not available	not available	Qualifying 1, 1:36.967
21	Sergio Perez Cadillac	11	1:37.433	1:37.433	not available	not available	not available	not available	Qualifying 1, 1:37.433
22	Valtteri Bottas Cadillac	77	1:37.523	1:37.523	not available	not available	not available	not available	Qualifying 1, 1:37.523

Last updated 24th October 2026 at 23:04

Race

Circuit of the Americas, 25 October 2026, 20:00

= Fastest lap

Rank	Driver	Number	Grid	Pits	Fastest Lap	Race Time	Points
1	Kimi Antonelli Mercedes	12	1	1	1:39.086	1:35:16.650	25
2	Charles Leclerc Ferrari	16	4	2	fastest overall lap 1:37.976	13.078 behind	18
3	Max Verstappen Red Bull	3	2	2	1:39.231	17.485 behind	15
4	Lewis Hamilton Ferrari	44	5	2	1:38.457	18.515 behind	12
5	Lando Norris McLaren	1	8	1	1:39.811	30.521 behind	10
6	Isack Hadjar Red Bull	6	3	1	1:39.399	34.373 behind	8
7	Oscar Piastri McLaren	81	7	1	1:40.328	52.674 behind	6
8	George Russell Mercedes	63	6	1	1:39.928	54.303 behind	4
9	Liam Lawson Racing Bulls	30	9	1	1:39.652	1:19.183 behind	2
10	Pierre Gasly Alpine	10	10	1	1:40.193	1:27.516 behind	1
11	Nico Hulkenberg Audi	27	11	1	1:40.323	1:34.945 behind	0
12	Arvid Lindblad Racing Bulls	41	14	2	1:39.422	1 lap behind	0
13	Gabriel Bortoleto Audi	5	21	2	1:38.393	1 lap behind	0
14	Esteban Ocon Haas	31	15	1	1:41.418	1 lap behind	0
15	Lance Stroll Aston Martin	18	not available	2	1:40.189	1 lap behind	0
16	Fernando Alonso Aston Martin	14	12	2	1:39.841	1 lap behind	0
17	Alexander Albon Williams	23	17	2	1:41.132	1 lap behind	0
18	Carlos Sainz Jnr Williams	55	16	2	1:40.353	1 lap behind	0
19	Sergio Perez Cadillac	11	18	1	1:41.680	1 lap behind	0
not available	Franco Colapinto Alpine	43	20	0	1:41.087	did not finish completed 56 laps	0
not available	Oliver Bearman Haas	87	13	0	1:42.107	did not finish completed 56 laps	0
not available	Valtteri Bottas Cadillac	77	19	0	1:42.012	did not finish completed 56 laps	0

Last updated 25th October 2026 at 22:59

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