Leclerc Tops Second Practice at COTA

Charles Leclerc achieved the fastest time in the second practice session at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA), edging out Max Verstappen by 0.084 seconds. The session took place under bright and sunny conditions, with air temperatures at 30 degrees Celsius and track temperatures reaching 43 degrees.

During the session, various teams introduced updates to their cars. McLaren, Red Bull, Ferrari, Audi, and Alpine all made significant modifications aimed at improving aerodynamic performance. Notably, Leclerc's performance was marked by challenges with track limits, as the opening session recorded 79 violations across multiple turns.

Leclerc's quick lap came amidst a backdrop of penalties for other drivers, including Colapinto and Bortoleto, who faced grid drops for exceeding control electronics limits. The session concluded with Leclerc leading, followed by Antonelli, Verstappen, Hamilton, and Russell, while many drivers struggled with maintaining control on the track.