Liam Lawson Takes 10th in US Grand Prix Practice
The Racing Bulls driver clocked his best time at COTA while testing a final package of car upgrades.
Updated on Oct. 23, 2026 in Motorsports
Live Poll
Do you believe strict enforcement of track limits makes auto racing fairer for competitors?
Liam Lawson clocked the 10th fastest time during opening practice for the US Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas. While he posted a faster lap earlier, officials deleted his 1m 37.048s effort for exceeding track limits.
Why it matters
The practice session marks the debut of the Racing Bulls team's final major vehicle upgrade package of the year, aimed at improving performance at the Circuit of the Americas. Fans watching the weekend's race will be tracking how these updates, covering the front wing and floor, hold up against the rest of the field.
Liam Lawson finished 10th in the opening practice session with a best lap of 1m 37.309s, a performance measured against the fastest time set by Charles Leclerc. The team remains in an evaluation phase for four new VCARB03 components introduced for this event.
The players
Liam Lawson
A professional driver competing for the Racing Bulls team.
Charles Leclerc
A professional driver who set the fastest time during the opening practice session.
Circuit of the Americas
The dedicated racing facility located in southeast Austin that hosts the US Grand Prix.
The details
Racing Bulls arrived in Austin with four key updates to the VCARB03, specifically targeting the front wing, rear wing, floor, and engine cover. These modifications represent the final technical package the team will bring to the track this season. Lawson navigated the Circuit of the Americas successfully despite having a faster 1m 37.048s lap disqualified by race officials for track limit violations.
Timeline
October 23, 2026: Opening practice session occurs at the Circuit of the Americas.
The Texas Context
The introduction of these four new components for the VCARB03 follows the standard pattern of teams bringing final-season upgrades to the high-speed Circuit of the Americas track. This testing phase directly informs how the vehicle performs under the latest Formula 1 technical regulations for the remainder of the year.
Fans heading to the Circuit of the Americas can expect high-traffic conditions on the surrounding arterial roads throughout the Grand Prix weekend. Attendees should check real-time traffic updates before departing as qualifying and race sessions continue.
The takeaway
Keep an eye on whether the Racing Bulls' new front wing and floor components allow Lawson to maintain his pace through qualifying. Fans can review the official race weekend schedule to track how these final upgrades perform during the upcoming sessions.
Further reading
Follow the full weekend schedule and team progress on our Motorsports page.
Live Poll
Do you believe strict enforcement of track limits makes auto racing fairer for competitors?
