Kimi Antonelli can win the Formula 1 drivers’ championship at this weekend’s US Grand Prix, the 18th round of the 2026 season at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. The Mercedes driver leads the standings and has a clear route to a first world title on Sunday.
He needs to win the race. He also needs team-mate George Russell to finish ninth or lower and Lewis Hamilton to finish outside the top four.
Friday’s practice offered no guarantee. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc topped both sessions, and in the second he finished 0.042 seconds clear of Antonelli. Max Verstappen, who won the last race in Singapore, was third fastest. Hamilton, in the other Ferrari, was fourth.
Start time and weather
The 56-lap race starts at 3pm local time, which is 20:00 GMT. UK clocks go back on race day, so Friday and Saturday sessions run on BST while the race is on GMT.
The forecast for Austin is sunny and warm all weekend with a gentle breeze. Saturday’s qualifying should reach a high of 30C. Sunday is expected to stay dry, with temperatures up to 29C.
This is the 14th US Grand Prix held at the circuit. Verstappen turned pole position into victory there last year, with Lando Norris second and Leclerc third. Norris went on to win the championship.
How to follow on the BBC
Race commentary will be on BBC Radio 5 Live, 5 Sports Extra, BBC Sounds and the BBC Sport website and app. Listeners with a smart speaker can ask it to “play 5 Live”.
The Chequered Flag podcast will carry its post-race show after the grand prix. For the first time this year, the post-race show for every grand prix is also available to watch on BBC iPlayer and YouTube.
Source: BBC Sport
