Formula 1 heads to America for the United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas, following an extended stint across Asia. The race comes after a triple-header that saw Kimi Antonelli move closer to a maiden F1 title. The Mercedes driver enters three more back-to-back races with every chance of sealing a historic triumph.
Antonelli is 102 points clear of Mercedes team-mate George Russell at the top of the standings. Victories for Red Bull and Max Verstappen this year have helped Antonelli pull clear of the pack, leaving him a small chance of being crowned champion in Austin. Both Antonelli and Mercedes are in strong positions, but the competitive picture has rarely been more exciting in the 2026 season, with each of the top four teams entering weekends with genuine hopes of victory.
All eyes will be on Antonelli, while Verstappen's bid for a hat-trick of wins and Lewis Hamilton's attempt to bounce back from a tough Sunday in Singapore promise plenty of entertainment.
The Circuit of the Americas, a 3.4-mile, 20-corner track on the outskirts of Austin, is one of the best of the newer permanent circuits on the calendar. Its layout takes inspiration from Silverstone's Maggotts and Becketts, Istanbul Park's Turn Eight and Hockenheim's arena section, and it is known for a steep uphill run to the first corner that has produced numerous overtakes and controversial incidents. Temperatures are expected to climb above 30 degrees Celsius on all three days of track action, with a 50 per cent chance of rain during the race and showers possible on Friday and Saturday.
Source: Sky Sports Champions League · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing