2026 United States GP: Ferrari fast, but short in Austin

Ferrari set the pace in practice at the 2026 United States Grand Prix, but Charles Leclerc qualified fourth and finished second while Lewis Hamilton took fourth.

Ferrari looked quickest through practice at the 2026 United States Grand Prix, but that pace did not carry through qualifying. Autosport and RaceFans reported that Charles Leclerc led both Friday sessions and Lewis Hamilton topped FP3, yet Ferrari did not find enough improvement in Q3. Motorsport.com also reported that Leclerc and Hamilton started fourth and fifth.

On Sunday, Formula1.com reported that Kimi Antonelli won in Austin, with Leclerc finishing second after a race-long fight for P2 with Max Verstappen. Formula1.com also said Leclerc was voted Driver of the Day. The podium was the 53rd of Leclerc’s Formula 1 career, and he remained fifth in the 2026 drivers’ championship on 233 points.

Hamilton finished fourth. Formula1.com reported that he pointed to balance as his main problem, while Motorsport.com reported that Hamilton believed his set-up choice hurt his pace relative to his team-mate. Hamilton stayed third in the standings on 241 points. Ferrari, Formula 1’s longest-running constructor, is in its 77th season and has 250 wins and 16 constructors’ titles.