Ferrari continued its impressive form at the Circuit of The Americas as Lewis Hamilton set the fastest time in FP3 at the 2026 United States Grand Prix.
After Charles Leclerc topped both Friday practice sessions, the seven-time world champion led the final hour of running with a 1:34.893, finishing 0.168 seconds ahead of Max Verstappen’s Red Bull.
Leclerc completed the top three, 0.234 seconds behind his teammate, giving Ferrari another encouraging result ahead of qualifying.
The Scuderia has now topped all three practice sessions in Austin, establishing itself as one of the leading contenders for pole position.
Hamilton Finds His Pace as Ferrari Confirms Progress
After a challenging Friday, during which he struggled with the car’s setup and finished sixth and fourth in the opening two sessions, Hamilton made a significant improvement in FP3.
The British driver delivered his fastest lap on soft tyres, demonstrating the SF-26’s competitiveness around the demanding Texas circuit.
Ferrari appears to have made progress with the aerodynamic upgrade package introduced in Austin, which includes modifications to the floor and diffuser.
The team’s latest developments have produced encouraging early signs, although their true impact will only become clear during qualifying.
Leclerc, who had dominated Friday’s running, finished third after having his fastest lap deleted for exceeding track limits.
Verstappen Second as Mercedes Chases Ferrari
Max Verstappen emerged as Ferrari’s closest challenger.
The Red Bull driver recorded a 1:35.061, finishing less than two tenths behind Hamilton.
Championship leader Kimi Antonelli secured fourth place for Mercedes, ahead of teammate George Russell in fifth.
Neither Mercedes driver was able to challenge for the fastest time, although both remain potential contenders in qualifying.
Antonelli enters the American weekend with his first mathematical opportunity to secure the world championship, depending on his result and those of his closest rivals.
McLaren Outside the Top Five, Hülkenberg Impresses
McLaren endured a more difficult session.
Oscar Piastri finished sixth, ahead of Nico Hülkenberg, who delivered an encouraging performance for Audi.
Lando Norris could manage only eighth position, more than eight tenths behind Hamilton’s benchmark.
Pierre Gasly finished ninth for Alpine, while Isack Hadjar completed the top ten in the second Red Bull.
Hadjar also attracted the attention of the stewards following a late incident involving Alexander Albon.
The French driver complained that the Williams had impeded him at Turn 1 before subsequently moving alongside Albon and obstructing his return to the circuit.
United States Grand Prix 2026: FP3 Results
| Pos. | Driver | Team | Time / Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 1:34.893 |
| 2 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | +0.168 |
| 3 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | +0.234 |
| 4 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | Approx. +0.3 |
| 5 | George Russell | Mercedes | +0.488 |
| 6 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | +0.638 |
| 7 | Nico Hülkenberg | Audi | +0.698 |
| 8 | Lando Norris | McLaren | +0.813 |
| 9 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine | +1.011 |
| 10 | Isack Hadjar | Red Bull | +1.037 |
Can Ferrari Fight for Pole Position in Austin?
With Hamilton fastest in FP3 and Leclerc leading both Friday sessions, Ferrari heads into qualifying with plenty of reasons for optimism.
The SF-26 has demonstrated strong single-lap performance, although Verstappen remains close enough to challenge for a front-row starting position.
Mercedes and McLaren will be looking to close the gap after failing to match the leading trio in the final practice session.
Qualifying for the United States Grand Prix takes place on Saturday, October 24, at 11:00 PM Italian time (10:00 PM BST).
Ferrari will aim to convert its practice dominance into pole position at the Circuit of The Americas.
For Hamilton, topping FP3 represents an important confidence boost. After struggling during the opening sessions, the seven-time world champion has returned to the top of the timesheets at the most important moment before qualifying.