Can Ferrari stay ahead in Austin as a four-team fight takes shape?

Charles Leclerc swept Friday practice at the United States Grand Prix, giving Ferrari an encouraging start at the Circuit of the Americas. Yet the margins suggest qualifying and Sunday’s race could remain closely contested.

Ferrari, Mercedes, Red Bull and McLaren all showed competitive pace. The challenge now is converting that potential into performance when fuel loads fall and the results count.

Ferrari’s cornering strength delivers

Leclerc’s speed was repeatable across both sessions, rather than dependent on one exceptional lap. He also led the calculated ideal-lap comparison, reinforcing the impression that Ferrari’s Friday performance had substance.

The advantage came through the corners, compensating for a straight-line weakness that continues to concern the team.

Ferrari’s Austin upgrade completes the development package introduced in Madrid. Early signs are positive, but maintaining that position matters: strong Fridays have not always translated into equally convincing weekends.

Our Friday practice recap covers the opening sessions.

Mercedes makes progress as McLaren leaves time behind

Four different teams occupied the first four positions in FP1, separated by approximately three tenths. In FP2, Ferrari, Mercedes and Red Bull were covered by around two tenths.

McLaren’s soft-tyre attempts were untidy, leaving its headline positions less representative of its potential. The longer runs also indicated little separation between the leading contenders.

Mercedes appears closer to understanding its upgraded car, with both drivers now using the same specification. That allows a broader setup comparison after the team split its packages in Singapore.

Kimi Antonelli nevertheless acknowledged that finding the car’s ideal operating window remains unfinished work. The progress offers encouragement without establishing Mercedes as the favourite.

Antonelli’s title opportunity remains remote

Antonelli must win to have any chance of securing the championship in Austin. He also needs Lewis Hamilton fifth or lower and George Russell ninth or lower.

That combination would require a disappointing result for the second Mercedes. The team’s priority remains maximising its collective score, rather than engineering an early coronation.

Midfield battle complicated by penalties

Racing Bulls looks particularly competitive over one lap, while Alpine showed stronger long-run potential. Audi’s recent improvement also puts it in contention.

All three teams brought upgrades, but grid penalties for Arvid Lindblad, Franco Colapinto and Gabriel Bortoleto complicate their prospects.

Ferrari holds the early advantage. With such narrow margins, however, cleaner execution and overnight setup gains could quickly reshape the order.