Formula 1 in Austin: The United States Grand Prix
Formula 1 arrives in Austin, Texas, for the nineteenth round of the season, the United States Grand Prix. Excitement builds in the drivers’ championship, with only six races remaining. The Circuit of the Americas is one of the favorites on the F1 calendar and one of the biggest events of the year. With a festive atmosphere, concerts, barbecues and more than 400,000 fans, a lot of action and drama is expected during the weekend.Weather Forecast
The weekend is looking hot and sunny, with temperatures exceeding 30°C (86°F). Saturday is expected to reach 34°C, which will represent another heat test for the drivers after Singapore, although with less humidity.Key News of the Week
Current race rules: McLaren boss Zak Brown has stated that the threat of Max Verstappen will keep the current race rules in place, despite the team already securing the constructors’ title in Singapore.Piastri as the favorite?: What sets Oscar Piastri apart from the other drivers? Emotional intelligence, perhaps? If the pressure of the fight for this year’s title is affecting the Australian driver, he doesn’t show it in his interactions with the media.Mercedes Renewal: George Russell’s long wait for a 2026 contract is over, after Mercedes confirmed he will remain with the team next year alongside teammate Kimi Antonelli.Trust in Ferrari: Lewis Hamilton has reaffirmed his belief that Ferrari can be a title contender, saying that the media only focuses on the negative aspects of the team’s 2025 season.Listen to the latest episode of ESPN’s F1 podcast, Unlapped
Contents
Circuit Statistics and History
The history of the United States with F1 dates back to the origins of the sport in 1950, when Indianapolis hosted the event between 1950 and 1960. In 1959, Sebring hosted the first United States Grand Prix, and since then the race has been held at five other circuits. The Circuit of the Americas (COTA) took on the role of host in 2012, after a four-year absence of F1 in the United States. During the popularity of F1 in the eighties, in the era of Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost and Niki Lauda, the United States hosted other Grand Prix, including Long Beach from 1976 to the early eighties, as well as Dallas, Las Vegas and Detroit at the same time.Now, the United States has Miami, Austin, and Las Vegas on the calendar.
COTA is a varied circuit with straights, esses in the second sector and a series of hairpin turns in the third sector. The high-speed corners are inspired by Silverstone and Hockenheim.United States Grand Prix
Circuit: Circuit of the Americas; Austin, TexasFirst F1 race: 2012
Lap record: 1:36.169, Charles Leclerc (2019) Laps: 56 laps of 5.5 km More victories: Lewis Hamilton with six (2007, 2012, (2014-2017)Other winners from the current grid:
- Verstappen (2021-2023)
- Leclerc (2024)
Other drivers who have achieved pole position on the current grid:
- Verstappen (2021)
- Carlos Sainz (2022)
- Leclerc (2023)
- Lando Norris (2024)
What makes it special?: A modern American classic, with a mix of fast curves, long straights and an iconic climb to turn 1. The American public offers a festival atmosphere, making it one of the most popular events of the year.
What the drivers say: “I think they’ve nailed the circuit. For a modern track, for me, it’s definitely the best there is. I love it.” — Daniel RicciardoWhere to watch: Turn 1 grandstand. The most pronounced elevation change on the F1 calendar, watching from the top of the hill is brilliant, especially when the group bunches up at the start.
What happened last year?
Leclerc won a memorable United States Grand Prix, where a late penalty relegated Norris to fourth position, behind Verstappen, his rival for the title. Norris had reached and overtaken Verstappen for third place after a long battle at the end of the race, but exceeded the track limits in doing so and received a five-second penalty. Verstappen finished third behind Sainz.Who will win?
After dominating the first half of the season, McLaren hasn’t won a race since the Dutch Grand Prix at the end of August. The newly crowned constructors’ champions are also not convinced that COTA suits their car, saying that Brazil, Qatar and Abu Dhabi will be their best opportunities to win again, and pointing to Verstappen as the favorite. Given Verstappen’s ability to maximize race weekends and McLaren’s propensity for end-of-season jitters, we agree with that assessment and bet on Verstappen’s victory.
Here are the championships
McLaren secured the constructors’ title in Singapore in their first back-to-back win since the early 90s. The drivers’ championship is not yet decided, and the situation is tight at the top, with six races to go. Oscar Piastri leads his teammate Norris by 22 points, but Verstappen is 41 points behind Norris, and has finished ahead of him in the last four races (including Norris’s retirement at Zandvoort).How to watch the GP
For fans in the United States, it can be watched live on ESPN and ESPN+. In the UK, live broadcasting is on Sky Sports F1 and BBC Radio 5 Live, with highlights on Channel 4. For news, analysis and updates, follow the coverage with ESPN F1’s Nate Saunders and Laurence Edmondson in Austin and on social media. Session times below in BST (British Summer Time). Local time is (CDT) Central Daylight Time (BST-6 hours).Friday
Practices: 18:30-19:30 BST Sprint Classification: 22:30-23:14 BSTSaturday
Sprint Race: 18:00-18:30 BST Classification: 22:00-23:00 BSTSunday
Start of the race: 20:00 BST (live text commentary from 19:00 BST on ESPN.co.uk/F1). – Classification | Calendar | Teams – F1 2025 Circuits: Their history, statistics, and why they are special – Key data about drivers, teams, venues, and more – Reasons to cheer for each F1 driver, questions for each team – Meet the Rookies: What to Expect from the 2025 F1 Class
