Motor racing-Leclerc laps fastest for Ferrari in first US GP practice
By Alan Baldwin AUSTIN, Texas, Oct 23 (Reuters) Ferrari s Charles Leclerc lapped fastest in first practice for the US Grand Prix at Austin s Circuit of the Americas on Friday with Mercedes championship leader Kimi Antonelli only fifth. The Monaco-born driver set the standard in his upgraded car with a time of one minute 36.052 seconds, 0.084 faster than Red Bull s Max Verstappen, who has won the previous two races in Singapore and Malaysia and was also triumphant in Austin last year. Leclerc whose car has changes to the floor, sidepod and diffuser won at the circuit outside Austin in 2024. McLaren s reigning champion Lando Norris was third fastest, 0.245 off the pace, with the Mercedes of George Russell and Antonelli 0.326 and 0.481 slower than Leclerc respectively. Antonelli, 20, can become the youngest ever Formula One champion if he wins Sunday s race and results go his way. Otherwise the Italian will have to wait until at least Mexico the weekend after. Ferrari s