Formula 1: Liam Lawson shows impressive pace on first day of US Grand Prix as upgrades pay off
Liam Lawson performed strongly in the US Grand Prix practice sessions, finishing in the top 10 while testing new upgrades for his Racing Bulls car. Meanwhile, championship leader Kimi Antonelli remains the primary focus as he nears a potential title win.
Why it matters
The performance of mid-field teams like Racing Bulls and the high-stakes championship battle define the current competitive landscape of the 2026 F1 season.
Liam Lawson has made an impressive start to Formula One’s US Grand Prix at Austin’s Circuit of the Americas, and logged top 10 finishes in both free practice sessions.
Taking to the track on Friday (local time) on what Lawson describes as his favourite circuit on the Formula One calendar, the Kiwi showed impressive pace from the outset – notably on the hard tyres – on the same weekend Racing Bulls unveiled what will likely be the team’s final upgrade package of the year .
Red Bull’s sister side have introduced four major new components to the VCARB03, with updates to the front and rear wings, floor and engine cover.
Lawson’s best time of the day, 1m 36.331s, in the second session (FP2), had him sixth-fastest, 1.040s off the pace. That time had Lawson ahead of both McLaren cars, as well as Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar.
Headlinne story · 8 newsrooms
Kimi Antonelli Wins United States Grand Prix to Near Championship
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