Ferrari finished second practice for the 2026 United States Grand Prix at the top of the timesheets, with Charles Leclerc beating Kimi Antonelli by just 0.042 seconds. Lewis Hamilton ended FP2 in fourth place, 0.615 seconds behind his Ferrari teammate. The SF-26 appeared highly competitive both over a single lap and on race pace, although the two Ferrari drivers experienced very different sessions.
Ferrari had already shown encouraging form in FP1 after bringing a new development package to the Texas round. The opening session was used partly for comparison work, with only Charles Leclerc running the updates on his SF-26. According to Giuliano Duchessa, Lewis Hamilton then moved onto the same specification for FP2, meaning both cars were equipped with Ferrari’s new Austin upgrade package.
Despite the positive start, it remains too early to reach a definitive conclusion about the work carried out by Ferrari with the new components. The clearest indications are expected during the decisive stages of the weekend, with qualifying likely to provide the first meaningful benchmark. Following FP1, the two subsequent practice sessions were considered crucial for gaining a deeper understanding of the package, which is expected to be Ferrari’s final major development of the 2026 season. The full timetable and session details are available in the 2026 United States Grand Prix schedule and Austin guide.
Ferrari leads FP2 with Charles Leclerc as Lewis Hamilton searches for balance
Ferrari chose to begin the second practice session on the hard tyre. For Lewis Hamilton, FP2 was also the first opportunity to run the complete upgrade package. Both SF-26 cars therefore started their programmes by pushing on the hardest compound while several rivals opted for the medium tyre.
Charles Leclerc was then involved in a brief incident with George Russell in the final sector, where the Ferrari passed the Mercedes as George Russell attempted to avoid being overtaken. The episode developed into a short on-track duel and was noted by the FIA stewards, with George Russell investigated for allegedly forcing another driver off the track. However, the incident did not lead to any meaningful consequence during the practice session.
Charles Leclerc sets the benchmark on soft tyres
At around the 35-minute mark, the leading teams switched to the soft tyre, and Ferrari immediately looked highly competitive during the opening laps on the compound. Charles Leclerc appeared particularly comfortable, which was perhaps unsurprising given that he already had more experience with the balance of the updated SF-26 after running the new parts in FP1.
Charles Leclerc moved to the top of the timesheets with a 1:35.291. Lewis Hamilton, meanwhile, used the radio to understand where he was losing time across the different sectors, relying on the familiar coaching provided by race engineer Carlo Santi. The gap between the two Ferrari drivers stood at roughly six tenths of a second.
Lewis Hamilton later returned briefly to the pits for an adjustment that added more front-wing angle before attempting another lap, although he was unable to improve his time. An initial assessment suggested that the SF-26 was particularly strong in the third sector, while Ferrari continued to lose time on the straights.
Ferrari’s long-run pace gives Charles Leclerc further encouragement
Charles Leclerc then told the team that he wanted to switch to the race-pace programme with a higher fuel load. Race engineer Bryan Bozzi agreed, pointing out that Turn 15 was the main area where Charles Leclerc could improve after losing around one tenth of a second there. Charles Leclerc acknowledged that he had made a fairly significant mistake at the corner.
The Monegasque driver’s SF-26 then began its race simulation with a 1:41.088. The consistency of Charles Leclerc’s lap times was particularly impressive and suggested a strong level of confidence in the car, as well as considerably improved performance with a heavier fuel load. The session’s short-run and longer-stint trends can also be explored through the ScuderiaFans F1 Practice & Long-Run Analysis.
Lewis Hamilton had a more difficult experience as the run developed, reporting increasing instability from the rear of the car. “I’m struggling to keep the car on the track,” the seven-time Formula 1 world champion said over the radio. With three minutes remaining, Lewis Hamilton fitted hard tyres to complete several more laps.
Charles Leclerc, meanwhile, reported that the gearbox felt slightly strange, although no specific problem was identified. Ferrari will still need to understand how much performance its rivals have in reserve, but the situation after FP2 appears highly encouraging for the team, particularly on Charles Leclerc’s side of the garage. Lewis Hamilton will instead need to refine his setup ahead of the next day of running.
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