Leclerc tops Austin practice but cautions on Ferrari upgrade

Charles Leclerc led both Friday practice sessions at the United States Grand Prix in Austin, but cautioned that Ferrari’s new aerodynamic package should not be taken as proof the team has closed the gap to its rivals. Leclerc set the fastest time in FP1 and FP2. In the second session, he edged Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli by 0.042 seconds. Ferrari introduced changes to its car’s floor, diffuser and bodywork, including revisions to the sidepod area. Leclerc said the car’s balance was good and Ferrari’s start was in line with expectations, but that the upgrade’s effect on lap time was being overstated. He said rivals still had performance to unlock and warned against carrying high expectations into Saturday. The practice results offered an encouraging start for Ferrari, but did not establish how much the new parts contributed to Leclerc’s pace. Setup, driver performance and the potential of other teams also affect the order, and the upgrade’s specific lap-time gain has not been isolated. Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur also described the start as positive while stressing that the field was close and the package still needed evaluation. He said five or six cars could...