F1 Austin: Verstappen Favorite, Piastri vs Norris and Hot Weather at COTA

United States Grand Prix: Formula 1 arrives in Austin

Formula 1 moves to Austin, Texas, for the nineteenth round of the season, the United States Grand Prix, where the tension increases in the drivers’ championship with six races remaining. The Circuit of the Americas is not only one of the most beloved tracks on the F1 calendar, but also one of the biggest events of the year, with a carnival atmosphere, concerts, barbecues and more than 400,000 fans, so a lot of action and drama is expected during the weekend.

Weather forecast: Heat and sun

The weekend is looking hot and sunny, with temperatures above 30°C (86°F). Saturday is expected to reach 34°C, which will be another heat test for the drivers after Singapore, although with less humidity.

Top News of the Week

McLaren boss Zak Brown has stated that the imminent threat of Max Verstappen will keep the racing rules in place, even though the team secured the constructors’ title in Singapore.

Zak Brown

Does emotional intelligence and talent make Oscar Piastri the favorite for the title?

George Russell secures his contract with Mercedes for 2026, continuing alongside Kimi Antonelli. Lewis Hamilton reaffirms his confidence in Ferrari as a title contender.

McLaren, will it allow Piastri and Norris to fight for the drivers’ title?

COTA hosted a grand prix for the first time in 2012, when the circuit was inaugurated by Mario Andretti.

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 over as host in 2012, when the track was inaugurated by Mario Andretti, 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 additional Grand Prix, such as Long Beach from 1976 to the early eighties, as well as Dallas, Las Vegas and Detroit in the same period. Now, the United States has Miami, Austin, and Las Vegas on the calendar. COTA is a varied circuit with straights, esses in sector two and a series of hairpin turns in sector three. The high-speed corners are inspired by Silverstone and Hockenheim.

United States Grand Prix

Circuit: Circuit of the Americas; Austin, Texas

First 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)

More poles: Hamilton (2007, 2016-2018) is tied with Michael Schumacher (2000-2002, 2006) with four

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 brings a festive atmosphere, making it one of the most popular events of the year. What the drivers say about it: “I think they’ve nailed the circuit. For a modern track, for me, it’s undoubtedly the best there is. I love it.” — Daniel Ricciardo Where to watch: Grandstand 1. 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.

Charles Leclerc won the United States Grand Prix with his teammate Carlos Sainz on the podium.

What happened last year?

Leclerc won a memorable United States Grand Prix, where a late penalty relegated Norris behind Verstappen, title rival, to fourth place. 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, stating 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 nerves, we agree with that assessment and back Verstappen for the win.

Oscar Piastri leads Lando Norris by 22 points in the drivers’ championship heading into the United States Grand Prix.

Here are the championships

McLaren secured the constructors’ title in Singapore in their first back-to-back win since the early 1990s. The drivers’ championship is not yet decided, and it is closely contested 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). For fans in the United States, the live broadcast is on ESPN and ESPN+. In the UK, live coverage is on Sky Sports F1 and BBC Radio 5 Live, with highlights on Channel 4. For news, analysis, and updates, follow the coverage with the F1 team from Alofoke Deportes in Austin and on social media.