Ferrari Dominates US GP Practice as Hamilton Tops FP3

Ferrari enters qualifying for the United States Grand Prix as the clear favorite after sweeping the pace charts in the final practice session. While Lewis Hamilton officially topped the timing sheets, the Scuderia's overall dominance was evident across both qualifying simulations and long-run pace, positioning the team as the benchmark heading into the weekend.

Why it matters:

Ferrari's ability to consistently place both cars at the front suggests a highly optimized setup for the Circuit of the Americas. In the tight competitive landscape of the 2026 season, this raw speed puts significant pressure on championship leader Kimi Antonelli and Max Verstappen, who are both fighting to close the gap to the Maranello-based squad.

The Details:

• Track Limits Chaos: The session was defined by widespread lap deletions. Charles Leclerc originally posted a time 0.083s faster than Hamilton, but a track limits violation dropped him to third place.
• Top Order: Lewis Hamilton led the session with a 1m34.893s, followed by Max Verstappen (+0.168s) and Leclerc (+0.234s).
• Driver Struggles: Despite finishing second, Max Verstappen reported instability via team radio, capped by a chaotic moment of lock-ups and wheelspin at the end of his run.
• Midfield Performance: Nico Hulkenberg secured a notable seventh place for Audi, successfully splitting the McLaren duo of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris.
• Stewards' Review: Tension flared on track as Hamilton expressed frustration over a traffic incident involving Gabriel Bortoleto, which is currently under investigation by the stewards.

What's next:

As the paddock moves toward qualifying, the primary challenge for the frontrunners will be precision. With so many high-profile drivers—including Antonelli and the McLaren pair—falling foul of track limits in FP3, the battle for pole position may be decided by who can push the limit without crossing the white line.