We're back in America. The Circuit of the Americas in Austin, with its fast corners and rollercoaster elevation changes, always promises a spectacular GP. But while in previous years we expected Charles Leclerc to set the fastest times right away, this time the atmosphere is different. Just seconds into the session, you can already feel it: the 2025 pecking order is no longer the same. And McLaren and a surprise Hulkenberg immediately make us understand this.
McLaren dominates the scene
The Woking team has now got its hands on the constructors' title And the internal duel between Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris for the drivers' championship has become the main story of this final stage of the championship. Piastri seems more consistent, but Norris has no intention of giving up. It's also worth remembering that this is a Sprint weekend: a single free practice session, followed immediately by qualifying. Every minute on track counts, and pit-fighting should be left out.
Because it's often not just about performance: in the paddock we continue to talk about Lando's behavior in Singapore, where he would have "grazed" Piastri At Turn 1. The yellow warning they received continues to spark controversy. Many consider it excessive, others too light. But the point is that tension is building between the two, while the Flying Dutchman looms ever larger behind them. And Verstappen is ready to pounce at the first mistake.
First bars: pace, mistakes and red flags
Everyone starts on hard tyres. In the first ten minutes, Norris, Sainz, and Verstappen alternate at the top of the timesheets. Hadjar makes a mistake and ends up wide, almost touching the advertising signs. Hamilton, however, silently joins the leading group and, at the 37th minute, sets the fastest time. before the red flag caused by debris left by Stroll.
When the session resumes, Bearman ends up in the gravel in the Haas, while others focus on race pace simulations. Verstappen and Norris study each other, some working on pace, others on tyre compounds. The first sector, as always, proves critical: bumpy, full of vibrations, and difficult to interpret, except for McLaren, who seems to have a better grasp of this Austin GP.
Voices and signals from Maranello
The usual apparent calm emanates from the Ferrari garage. Hamilton also described it this way: "Me, Fred and the whole team are working very hard for the future.”A diplomatic phrase, but one that sounds like a signal of transition.SF-25 seems to suffer from Austin's bumps And so far, the times aren't telling a great story. With only one hour of practice available, the teams had to choose: focus on qualifying or tire management.
With ten minutes to go, the qualifying simulations begin: Leclerc complains about tyre problems and a suspicious smell of oil, forcing him to make a quick pit stop for his helmet, steering wheel, and gloves. No real simulation for him. The result is a fragmented session, with many small clues but few certainties. McLaren, once again, appears to have the most solid package. Ferrari remains in the shadows. Verstappen observes.
Waiting for the Sprint
We're already getting into the heart of the matter this evening and Sprint will be able to overturn every balanceBut for now, Austin has already sent a clear message. The Red Bulls seem back in form, sharing time with Alonso and Hamilton and the papayas. The balance of the championship is shifting, and some suspect different mappings among the McLaren drivers, a small sign of tension, perhaps strategy in this Austin GP. After the final practice starts, the stopwatch speaks clearly:
1. Norris – 2. Hülkenberg – 3. Piastri – 4. Alonso – 5. Verstappen.
A top five that speaks to a new, almost unstable balance. The track returns at midnight for Sprint Qualifying. And meanwhile, they're dismantling Leclerc's Ferrari...
It's Lando who leads Nico and Oscar! 👀
Here's the full classification from practice here in Austin 📊👇#F1 #USGP pic.twitter.com/jQ38DgPjvg
— Formula 1 (@F1) October 17, 2025
