‘We need to be careful’
Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc topped the practice sessions at the United States Grand Prix but urged caution regarding his team's performance. He noted that recent aerodynamic upgrades may not be as impactful as expected and expects strong competition from rivals.
Why it matters
This provides insight into the competitive landscape of the 2026 Formula 1 season and the effectiveness of mid-season technical developments.
‘We need to be careful’ – Leclerc warns against ‘high expectations’ at United States GP After impressing in Free Practice, Charles Leclerc has shared why Ferrari will find it tough to maintain top spot for the rest of the United States Grand Prix weekend.
Charles Leclerc revealed that Ferrari “need to be careful” despite topping the times in FP1 and FP2 at the United States Grand Prix, hinting that their upgrades aren’t as impactful as some may believe.
The Scuderia have made changes to key aerodynamic components including the floor, sidepod inlet and diffuser, which Lewis Hamilton predicted would only deliver “half a tenth” in performance during Thursday’s press conference.
Leclerc nevertheless managed to set the pace in the first two Free Practice sessions at the Circuit of The Americas , albeit by slim margins of 0.084s and 0.042s over Max Verstappen and Kimi Antonelli respectively.
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