LECLERC STAYS ON TOP IN SECOND PRACTICE AT COTA, NARROWLY AHEAD OF ANTONELLI

Leclerc topped second practice at COTA with a 1'35.291, but the real story was the margins. Just 0.042 seconds covered him and Mercedes rookie Antonelli, who fought a loose seat before posting P2. Verstappen slotted third, still within two-tenths, but the leading trio gapped the field by half a second — a chasm that left everyone else scrambling.

Hamilton managed only fourth in the sister Ferrari, visibly uncomfortable, while Russell's oversteer snap cost him fifth. Lawson out-paced both McLarens to grab sixth for Racing Bulls, leaving Norris over a second adrift despite untapped pace on softs.

The American storylines cut both ways. Bearman planted his Haas — dressed in a one-off minty blue livery for the team's home race — inside the top ten, and Cadillac finally climbed off the bottom of the timesheet. Williams inherited that dishonor. Albon ended eight seconds off the pace after multiple excursions; teammate Sainz was blunt: "The car is a mess." Austin weekend, Austin chaos.