Leclerc Leads Opening Session at COTA

Charles Leclerc recorded the fastest time during the opening session at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA), finishing ahead of Max Verstappen by 0.84 seconds. The session took place under clear skies with air temperatures at 27 degrees Celsius and track temperatures reaching 40 degrees.

Leclerc initially set a time of 36.761 before improving to 36.052 on soft tires. Verstappen, who experienced steering issues, managed to clock in at 35.860 but could not surpass Leclerc's final time. Other notable performances included Lando Norris in third and George Russell in fourth, while Kimi Antonelli secured fifth place.

The session saw various teams testing new components, with updates from McLaren, Red Bull, Ferrari, and others aimed at enhancing aerodynamic performance. As the session concluded, Leclerc led the timesheet, followed by Verstappen, Norris, Russell, and Antonelli.