Formula 1 in Austin: The United States Grand Prix Ignites
Formula 1 arrives in Austin for the nineteenth round of the season, the United States Grand Prix, where the tension in the drivers’ championship increases as the last six races approach. 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. A lot of action and drama is expected during the weekend.Weather forecast: Heat and sun
The weekend forecast is hot and sunny, with temperatures above 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.
Will McLaren let Piastri and Norris fight for the drivers’ title?
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Top News of the Week
PAPAYA RULES: McLaren boss Zak Brown has stated that the looming threat of Max Verstappen will keep the current race rules in place, despite the team securing the constructors’ title in Singapore.FAVORITE TO THE TITLE?: What distinguishes Oscar Piastri 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 continue with the team next year alongside teammate Kimi Antonelli.FAITH IN FERRARI: Lewis Hamilton has reaffirmed his belief that Ferrari can be a title contender during his time with them, saying that the media only focuses on the negative aspects of the team’s 2025 season.ADDITIONAL ANALYSIS: For more analysis, listen to the latest episode of ESPN’s F1 podcast, Unlapped, with F1 writers Nate Saunders and Laurence Edmondson.
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, when the circuit 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, including 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, 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 pole sitters from the current grid:
- Verstappen (2021)
- Carlos Sainz (2022)
- Leclerc (2023)
- Lando Norris (2024)
What happened last year?
Leclerc won a memorable United States Grand Prix, where a late penalty relegated Norris behind Verstappen, his 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, 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 back Verstappen for the win.
