Hamilton edges Verstappen in FP3 as Ferrari sweeps all three practice sessions at COTA

Lewis Hamilton led Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc at the end of third practice for the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas on Saturday, completing a clean sweep of all three practice sessions for Ferrari.

Hamilton was the only driver to break the 1m35s barrier in the closing stages of FP3, posting a 1m34.893s on soft tyres to hold off Verstappen, who had briefly gone top with a 1m35.061s after respecting the track limits that tripped up several rivals throughout the session.

Leclerc had looked capable of challenging Hamilton after going fastest on the slower medium compound with a 1m35.127s, but two separate track limits violations — at Turn 9 and Turn 10 — cost the Monegasque his best laps. He ultimately settled for third, setting up a tightly contested qualifying session.

The session had a slow start, with the opening quarter largely uneventful as teams ran install laps on medium tyres. Liam Lawson in the Racing Bulls and McLaren’s Oscar Piastri briefly featured near the top of the timesheets before the leading contenders began their soft-tyre runs.

Verstappen was vocal over the radio about unsettling downshifts throughout the session, yet still managed to go quickest on medium tyres with a 1m35.702s before Hamilton’s soft-tyre effort eclipsed him.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, the championship leader, was fourth despite having a lap deleted for a track limits breach at Turn 9. George Russell completed the top five for Mercedes, though the Silver Arrows appeared to be a half-step off the pace of Ferrari and Red Bull. Piastri was sixth in the McLaren MCL40.

Nico Hülkenberg was seventh for Audi, ahead of Lando Norris — whose best lap was also deleted for exceeding track limits at Turn 10. Pierre Gasly was ninth for Alpine, a full second adrift of Hamilton, while Isack Hadjar rounded out the top ten in the second Red Bull, frustrated by his car’s handling throughout the session.