United States Grand Prix
Sun, Oct 25, 20268:00 PM UTC
Weekend write-up
Austin returns to a standard weekend, Ferrari and Mercedes bring new parts, and Verstappen won from pole last year.
Circuit guide
Circuit of the Americas
Austin, United States
Circuit of the Americas in Austin borrows ideas from several classic circuits, most obviously in the steep uphill run to the first corner and a fast esses sequence inspired by Silverstone. The settling ground made it notoriously bumpy, and a partial resurface in 2024 smoothed the worst of it.
- Track type
- Permanent
- Overtaking
- Good
- Upset risk
- Medium
What the lap demands
A varied lap that asks for a bit of everything: a heavy braking zone into turn one, high-speed changes of direction through the early esses, a long back straight and a slow, technical final sector. Tyre wear is mostly thermal, so the heat of a Texas October matters.
How the racing unfolds
Two good passing zones and a wide track make for solid racing. The blind, uphill run to the first corner is the standout moment: drivers arrive without a clear view of the apex, the track is wide enough for three cars to try it at once, and first-lap position changes here are routine. The back straight offers the more conventional overtaking opportunity later in the race.
Picking a Top 5 here
A reasonably honest circuit where the quicker cars generally come through, so the grid is a decent starting point. Heat is the variable: a car that overheats its tyres through the esses can fade over a long run even from a good grid slot.
Weekend Schedule
UTCNot Yet Open
Predictions for this race will open after the previous race is complete.
Predictions open Sun, Oct 11 at 12:00 PM