US Free Practice 3: Hamilton ahead of Verstappen, a flurry of track limit penalties

The final opportunity to fine-tune the race cars’ set-up for the Circuit of the Americas, just outside Austin, Texas: the third free practice session. In summery conditions (air temperature 28 degrees, track temperature 40 degrees), with considerably more cloud cover than on Friday and in front of packed grandstands, the 22 Formula 1 drivers set off.

Following Charles Leclerc’s two fastest times in the Ferrari during the first two practice sessions, the big question was: who can do better than the Italian? Max Verstappen was faster in the first practice session, but that lap was disallowed for the Dutchman due to breaching the track limits.

Keep this in mind – it could cause quite a stir in qualifying. Following 207 laps being disallowed across the two free practice sessions, some of the white lines were widened for Saturday at turns 12, 15 and 20. This is intended to help the drivers.

Formula 1 champion Jenson Button points out: “Drivers will always push to the limit, no matter how wide a white line is.”

Also completed during the night leading up to Saturday: the bumps when braking for Turn 19 were ground down.

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Austin: Qualifying

FIA Formula One World Championship

24.10.2026 - 22:50

The fans didn’t get to see much at first, as the top teams didn’t take to the track during the first part of the practice session. This is because they know that the track’s grip is at its best right at the very end. Another reason: the soft tyres barely last a lap here. So it was a case of conserving them. Furthermore, the top teams wanted to wait until the track reached a temperature that is more representative of qualifying

So, for the first ten minutes, it was a meagre offering for the fans, featuring the Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto, as well as Cadillac veterans Sergio Pérez and Valtteri Bottas.

A bit of a scare after 12 minutes: a smoking Ferrari driven by superstar Lewis Hamilton. In the pits, Ferrari boss John Elkann looked concerned. Someone had probably put in a little too much oil, because the record-breaking champion carried on as if the smoke had never appeared. The five-time Austin winner took the lead.

After 20 minutes, Max Verstappen was in the lead (Lando Norris’s fastest time was disallowed – you know why). Then came Charles Leclerc, Friday’s fastest man – 0.26 seconds slower than Max. But Leclerc’s lap was also disallowed. Verstappen and Leclerc were both on medium tyres.

Shortly afterwards, a new fastest lap from Lewis Hamilton (on soft Pirellis), 141 thousandths faster than Verstappen on medium tyres.

Max Verstappen spoke up (yet again) over the radio to complain about sloppy gear changes. “That’s so stupid.” The problem: a driver is at the limit, braking into a corner, and has to change gear at the same time; and when the driver is already at the limit of grip, this can throw the car off balance. Verstappen aborted the attempt in question.

Standings after 30 minutes: Leclerc, Hamilton, Antonelli, Verstappen, Norris, Russell. Nico Hülkenberg in the Audi was in P12. Behind Russell, the German was locked in a minor battle with Haas driver Esteban Ocon. His race engineer, Laura Müller, said over the radio: “That was unnecessary.” The thoroughly entertained fans didn’t share that view.

With two Ferraris at the front, the Tifosi began to dream. The last time this happened in qualifying was three years ago in Mexico in 2023, with Charles Leclerc ahead of Carlos Sainz.

Kimi Antonelli set off on fresh tyres after 40 minutes, at which point he was in P3 behind the two Ferraris driven by Leclerc and Hamilton.

The championship leader flexed his muscles: a new fastest lap, 112 thousandths faster than Leclerc. The second Mercedes driver, George Russell, moved up to P3 ahead of Hamilton. And then Antonelli lost his lap.

Kimi growled over the radio: “Aaaah, I went off the track.” His race engineer, Pete Bonington, cooed like an indulgent father to his son: “But you were doing so well before.”

Max Verstappen moved to the top, 66 thousandths ahead of Leclerc, but Hamilton was even faster – the new leader, 168 thousandths ahead of the Dutchman. Charles Leclerc wasn’t about to let that stand: fastest again, 83/1000 ahead of Hamilton. But this lap was also disallowed, as was Lando Norris’s fourth-fastest time.

All in all, 42 laps were disallowed in this third practice session alone. That could make for an interesting final practice session.

A nice final note from Audi driver Nico Hülkenberg: seventh fastest!