FP1 at the 2026 F1 United States GP at COTA has been completed, view the full session report here.
Down at Cadillac, Colton Herta stepped in for Sergio Pérez as part of mandatory FP1 running.
The FIA confirmed before the action started that some testing would take place regarding a low-power engine mode at the end of the session following the events of Malaysia.
“The FIA, together with the teams and Power Unit manufacturers will run a simulation at the end of FP1, with cars running on low grip mode, using specific driver inputs during the in-lap to test additional software protections. This will mean that cars will be running for a short distance at low speed at Turn 15 at the end of the session.”
Ollie Bearman was the first driver to post a time, logging a 1:41.965. However, that time was quickly destroyed; World Champion Lando Norris did a 1:38.715 to go fastest by 0.437s from Leclerc. Both were on mediums. Russell, Verstappen and Lawson were all on hards from 3rd to 5th after the first attempts.
On the second go, Lewis Hamilton kept it within track limits this time and did a 1:37.235 to go fastest by 0.195s from Leclerc. Norris was the only other driver within 0.5s. Verstappen, Antonelli, Russell, Piastri, Lawson, Stroll and Hadjar completed the top 10 at the 12-minute mark.
The World Champion had gone purple in Sectors 1 and 2 but then had a snap in Turn 18, as well as getting savagely blocked by the Red Bull of Max Verstappen. It meant Leclerc on a 1:36.761 went top, 0.074s ahead of his Ferrari teammate.
Hard tyre starts to get stronger in FP1 at the 2026 F1 United States GP
As Leclerc, Hamilton and Norris occupied the top 3 on mediums, both Antonelli and Russell made big gains to move to within 0.5s of car #16. Piastri, Hadjar, Verstappen, Lawson and Lindblad completed the top 10 as most returned to the pits.
Soft tyre appears
At Turn 1, Lewis Hamilton was sliding like crazy and eventually had a snap, forcing him to abort his first attempt. His former teammate George Russell also had a lock-up and went straight on up there; Alex Albon did a similar thing a few minutes later.
A 1:36.052 from Charles Leclerc put him P1, 0.084s clear of Max Verstappen. The Dutchman had gone 0.192s on his next push but lost the time for track limits in Turn 19. Norris (+0.245s), Russell (+0.326s) and Antonelli (+0.481) completed the top 5.
Hamilton, Piastri, Bortoleto, Lindblad and Lawson completed the top 10.
Alex Albon did not a complete a timed lap. He had two deleted, and then locked up into Turn 12 on a third attempt.
