Lewis Hamilton Tops Final Practice at United States Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton topped the timing sheets in the final practice session at the United States Grand Prix, hinting that Ferrari's latest technical updates are hitting the mark at the Circuit of the Americas. Hamilton clocked a 1:34.893, narrowly edging out Max Verstappen in a session that suggests a high-stakes battle for pole position.

Why it matters:

Early pace in FP3 often serves as a barometer for qualifying performance, especially at a complex track like COTA. For Ferrari, seeing both Hamilton and Leclerc in the top three validates the effectiveness of their recent upgrades, placing the Scuderia in a prime position to challenge Red Bull's consistency in the Americas.

The Details:

• The Pace: Lewis Hamilton set the benchmark with a 1:34.893, showcasing strong synergy with Ferrari's updated aerodynamic package.
• The Competition: Max Verstappen maintained his usual competitiveness, splitting the Ferrari duo to finish second and keeping Red Bull within striking distance.
• Teammate Synergy: Charles Leclerc followed in third, trailing Hamilton by 0.234 seconds, confirming that the Ferrari SF-26 is balanced across both drivers.
• Mercedes' Status: The Silver Arrows remain in the hunt, with Kimi Antonelli and George Russell securing fourth and fifth positions respectively, showing steady but slightly lower peak pace than the leaders.

What's next:

The focus now shifts to qualifying, where Ferrari will look to convert this practice speed into a front-row lockout. With the 2026 championship battle reaching its critical final stages this October, every single point at COTA will be vital for the title contenders.