The second free practice session for the 2026 Formula 1 United States Grand Prix is set to begin at 23:00 CEST, with Ferrari looking to build on Charles Leclerc’s fastest lap in FP1. The opening session at the Circuit of The Americas offered encouraging signs for the Maranello team, but FP2 should provide a more meaningful indication of qualifying performance, race pace and tyre degradation ahead of the rest of the Austin weekend.
Welcome to ScuderiaFans.com’s live coverage of FP2 at the United States Grand Prix. The session is scheduled to run from 23:00 until midnight CEST, with teams expected to concentrate on qualifying simulations and longer runs to assess their competitiveness over several laps.
2026 United States GP FP2 live: Ferrari prepares for race simulations
Second practice is traditionally an important part of the Grand Prix weekend because teams begin gathering more representative information about their cars’ performance. Alongside qualifying simulations, attention will turn towards longer runs and the consistency of lap times, with tyre degradation remaining a particularly significant consideration at the Circuit of The Americas.
For Ferrari, the session represents another opportunity to evaluate the SF-26 aerodynamic upgrades introduced for Austin. The Italian team made a promising start during the opening practice session, although further running will be important in understanding its performance relative to Mercedes, McLaren and Red Bull.
The differences between short-run speed and sustained performance can also be explored through the F1 Practice and Long-Run Analysis, which provides practice lap-time comparisons and tyre-stint information.
Charles Leclerc fastest in FP1 ahead of Max Verstappen and Lando Norris
Charles Leclerc topped Friday’s opening practice session in Austin, delivering the fastest lap with Ferrari’s SF-26 already equipped with the team’s new upgrade package.
The Monegasque finished just 0.084 seconds ahead of Max Verstappen, with Lando Norris taking third place for McLaren. Mercedes occupied the next two positions, with George Russell fourth and Andrea Kimi Antonelli fifth.
Lewis Hamilton completed the session in sixth place, approximately half a second behind his Ferrari teammate. The opening results gave the Scuderia an encouraging start, although the competitive order could change as teams refine their preparations during FP2.
Can Ferrari maintain its early Austin advantage in FP2?
The central question heading into second practice is whether Charles Leclerc and Ferrari can maintain the competitiveness demonstrated during FP1. While the opening session produced a positive result for the upgraded SF-26, the longer runs should provide further information about race pace and tyre behaviour.
Mercedes, Red Bull and McLaren will also be looking to assess their performance as preparations continue for qualifying and Sunday’s Grand Prix.
Follow ScuderiaFans.com’s live coverage for the latest developments from the second free practice session at the 2026 United States Grand Prix. The full timetable is available in our Austin Grand Prix schedule and Circuit of The Americas guide.
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