Key Takeaways
- Charles Leclerc tops practice times for Ferrari in US Grand Prix.
- Kimi Antonelli and Max Verstappen follow in second and third.
- Antonelli could clinch the drivers' title this weekend.
Charles Leclerc secured the top spot for Ferrari during second practice for this weekend's United States Grand Prix, outpacing Mercedes' championship leader Kimi Antonelli by just 0.042 seconds.
Leclerc, who won in Austin two years ago, completed his best lap in 1:35.291, while Antonelli, a 20-year-old Italian, was 0.042 seconds behind in second place.
Max Verstappen, the four-time champion, was third, 0.189 seconds behind Leclerc, with Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton in fourth, six-tenths off the pace.
Team-mate George Russell was fifth, ahead of Racing Bulls' Liam Lawson and the McLarens of world champion Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.
Isack Hadjar was ninth in the second Red Bull, and Oliver Bearman was 10th for Haas.
Antonelli, who could become Formula One's youngest champion and Italy's first since Alberto Ascari in 1953, faces stiff competition from Verstappen and Russell.
Team-mates Hamilton and Russell need to finish in the top eight and top four, respectively, to keep their title hopes alive if Antonelli wins.
Three drivers received grid penalties: Arvid Lindblad of Racing Bulls, Franco Colapinto of Alpine, and Gabriel Bortoleto of Audi, all for exceeding power unit component limits.
Norris briefly went top on hards before Russell beat his time, but dropped to second as Verstappen took a tow from team-mate Hadjar to clock 1:35.934 and go clear by a tenth.
Antonelli's absence for repairs was a setback, as Verstappen and Russell capitalized before he rejoined the fray, taking third behind them.
Leclerc's lead was confirmed when Hamilton went third, six-tenths behind his team-mate, until Antonelli took second, just 0.042 off Leclerc's time.
