Formula 1 returns to the Circuit of the Americas this weekend for the United States Grand Prix - as Kimi Antonelli stands on the cusp of his first world championship.
The 20-year-old Italian holds a 102-point lead over Mercedes teammate George Russell and will win his first title if he wins this Sunday’s grand prix and Russell finishes ninth or lower. Antonelli also needs Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton to finish fifth or lower.
READ: How F1 champion-elect Antonelli has vindicated Wolff’s bravest Mercedes move
A podium last time out in Singapore extended Antonelli’s lead, as Max Verstappen claimed his second victory in a row amid a Red Bull resurgence this season. Russell, meanwhile, only finished ninth and crashed out of the sprint race in Marina Bay.
The popular race in Austin is the start of another triple-header, with Mexico and Brazil to follow in the weeks ahead. Verstappen was victorious at COTA last year.
Follow live updates with The Independent from the Circuit of the Americas
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F1 UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX - LATEST UPDATES
- The race on Sunday starts at 8pm BST
- Kimi Antonelli on pole position; Verstappen 2nd; Hadjar 3rd
- Antonelli can win the world championship on Sunday
- Antonelli needs to win the race and hope Russell finishes ninth or lower and Hamilton comes home fifth or lower
What time is the race?
23:05 , Kieran JacksonThe United States Grand Prix starts at 8pm BST on Sunday night.
What are the remaining races?
04:00 , Kieran JacksonROUND 18 - UNITED STATES
Circuit of the Americas, Austin - 23-25 October
ROUND 19 - MEXICO
Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, Mexico City - 30 October-1 November
ROUND 20 - BRAZIL
Interlagos Circuit, Sao Paulo - 6-8 November
ROUND 21 - LAS VEGAS
Las Vegas Street Circuit - 19-21 November
ROUND 22 - QATAR
Lusail International Circuit - 27-29 November
ROUND 23 - ABU DHABI
Yas Marina Circuit - 4-6 December
FIA boss reveals firm stance on staging of Abu Dhabi and Qatar F1 races
03:00 , Kieran JacksonFIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem insists the final two races of the Formula 1 season in Qatar (29 November) and Abu Dhabi (6 December) will take place as planned.
Grand prix events in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia in April were cancelled due to the US-Iran war and subsequent conflict in the Middle East. Over the summer, F1 revealed a mid-September deadline for making a call on the final two rounds, with Imola in Italy acting as a one-off back-up option for the first weekend in December.
That deadline then extended to mid-October, with F1 now telling personnel to move ahead as planned unless told otherwise. That being said, grandstands are being built at Imola in case of a change of circumstances.
In recent weeks, two container ships were sunk near the Strait of Hormuz after being struck by missiles while, separately, sites in Saudi Arabia have been targeted by the Yemeni separatist group the Houthis, with 13 people killed at Riyadh Airport.
As such, Emirati executive Ben Sulayem was asked whether Qatar and Abu Dhabi were “fine” to stage Formula 1 races. As reported by The Race, he replied: "Yeah, fine. One thing I would say: I have my children there [in the UAE]. You think I would leave them there and I'm here now with you [if it was dangerous]?”
More below:
FIA boss reveals firm stance on Abu Dhabi and Qatar F1 races
What is the grid?
02:00 , Kieran Jackson1. Kimi Antonelli
2. Max Verstappen
3. Isack Hadjar
4. Charles Leclerc
5. Lewis Hamilton
6. George Russell
7. Oscar Piastri
8. Lando Norris
9. Liam Lawson
10. Pierre Gasly
11. Nico Hulkenberg
12. Ollie Bearman
13. Fernando Alonso
14. Arvid Lindblad*
15. Esteban Ocon
16. Lance Stroll
17. Carlos Sainz
18. Alex Albon
19. Sergio Perez
20. Valtteri Bottas
21. Franco Colapinto**
22. Gabriel Bortoleto***
*Arvid Lindlad has a five-place grid penalty
**Franco Colapinto has a 10-place grid penalty
***Gabriel Bortoleto has a back-of-the-grid penalty
Charles Leclerc after qualifying P4:
01:00 , Kieran Jackson“Where we’ve lost is on ourselves, mostly the tyres, out-lap was extremely difficult, for us it was night and day difference, I was having lots of difficulties - shame it happened in Q3, thought we had the pace to be at the front, but not today again.”
Isack Hadjar in third:
23:59 , Kieran Jackson“I’m happy with P3, it’s been incredibly tough for me! Thankful for the hard work, have been tought with the team, but happy to be third but we had a shot of pole, had a massive tailwind in 15, lost so much time, bit gutted but happy to have fought back!”
Max Verstappen after taking second:
23:30 , Kieran Jackson“Q3 was not good, just didn’t have a good balance, no grip, started to slide a lot. You try to push a bit more, the car is like a kangaroo and you know the lap is over. Not happy with Q3 - but if it’s a P2 I take it.”
Kimi Antonelli after finishing pole:
23:21 , Kieran Jackson“Max has been very quick, done an incredible job, not going to be easy, will try and get a good start and lead into turn 1.
“Very happy with qualiying, very hard with wind, was gusty, but very happy to put it on pole.”
Top-10 in qualifying
23:12 , Kieran Jackson1. Kimi Antonelli
2. Max Verstappen
3. Isack Hadjar
4. Charles Leclerc
5. Lewis Hamilton
6. George Russell
7. Oscar Piastri
8. Lando Norris
9. Arvid Lindblad
10. Liam Lawson
Antonelli:
23:08 , Kieran Jackson“It feels good to be back!” says Antonelli after his first pole in three months!
Kimi Antonelli on pole position
23:02 , Kieran JacksonNobody went quicker!
Antonelli is on pole on what could be a title-winning weekend for the Italian! That’s Antonelli’s first pole since Spa!
Max Verstappen is second, with Isack Hadjar still in third!
4-10: Leclerc, Hamilton, Norris, Russell, Piastri, Lindblad, Lawson
Kimi Antonelli on provisional pole
22:54 , Kieran JacksonThe championship leader leads the way after the first laps!
He’s 0.179 secs quicker than Max Verstappen in second, with Isack Hadjar a surprise name in third!
4-10: Leclerc, Russell, Hamilton, Piastri, Norris, Lindblad, Lawson
Can anyone pip the Italian?
Q3 underway
22:49 , Kieran JacksonHere we go then for the top-10 shootout!
10 drivers involved: Russell, Antonellil, Norris, Piastri, Leclerc, Hamilton, Verstappen, Hadjar, Lindblad, Lawson
Out in Q2
22:47 , Kieran Jackson11. Pierre Gasly
12. Nico Hulkenberg
13. Ollie Bearman
14. Gabriel Bortoleto
15. Franco Colapinto
16. Fernando Alonso
Gasly out
22:43 , Kieran JacksonGasly is knocked out at the death by the Racing Bull duo!
Out in Q2 (11-16): Gasly, Hulkenberg, Bearman, Bortoleto, Colapinto, Alonso
Top-3: Leclerc, Antonelli, Russell
Time for the top-10 shootout!
Oscar Piastri on the edge
22:37 , Kieran JacksonThe Australian is struggling so far in qualifying - he’s P10 after the first runs, just a tenth clear.
Current bottom-six (11-16): Lindblad, Gasly, Colapinto, Bearman, Alonso, Bortoleto
Top-3: Verstappen, Norris, Antonelli
4:00 to go in Q2...
Q2 underway
22:25 , Kieran JacksonWill we get any shock eliminations before the top-10 finale?
15 minutes this time, where we’ll lose the slowest six drivers from the rest of qualifying...
Out in Q1
22:22 , Kieran Jackson17. Esteban Ocon
18. Lance Stroll
19. Carlos Sainz
20. Alex Albon
21. Sergio Perez
22. Valtteri Bottas
Gasly escapes
22:21 , Kieran JacksonAs does Colapinto!
Fernando Alonso in the Aston Martin also through!
Bottom-six (17-22) and out in Q1: Ocon, Stroll, Sainz, Albon, Perez, Bottas
George Russell on team radio:
22:15 , Kieran Jackson“My back is very hot.”
Engineer: “OK, we’ll take a look.”
Colapinto in danger-zone
22:14 , Kieran JacksonBeen a good few months for Alpine but, at the moment, Franco Colapinto in P17 and Pierre Gasly in P22 are in the drop-zone after the first few laps.
Current bottom-six (17-22): Colapinto, Ocon, Albon, Perez, Bottas, Gasly
Oscar Piastri the main big-hitter who may need to go quicker... in P9.
Leclerc quickest early on
22:09 , Kieran JacksonStill a handful of cars to set their first laps but, so far, all fine for the frontrunners.
Top-3: Leclec, Verstappen, Hadjar
Q1 underway
22:01 , Kieran JacksonHere we go with Q1 at the Circuit of the Americas!
18 minutes where we’ll lose the slowest six drivers - and I think track limits will be a BIG factor over the next hour or so..
Battle for pole
21:58 , Kieran JacksonIt really feels quite open!
Ferrari and Mercedes are the favourites, with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen inevitably in the mix too. And can McLaren find any form?
US GP PREVIEW: How F1 champion-elect Antonelli has vindicated Wolff’s bravest Mercedes move
21:56 , Kieran JacksonIn the weeks preceding the 2024 Formula 1 season, following the sensational news of Lewis Hamilton’s dramatic ditching of Mercedes for the allure and pageantry of Ferrari, the next quandary was obvious. How would Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff go about replacing the six-time champion who spearheaded the greatest driver-team relationship in the history of the sport?
Typically in the modern-day F1 ecosystem, the omnipresent Netflix boom mic was best placed.
“Have you talked to Toto yet?” Lewis Hamilton asked Carlos Sainz, the man he was replacing at the Scuderia and therefore unattached for 2025, as aired on Season 7 of Drive to Survive. “I haven’t talked to Toto yet…” Sainz replied. “Which makes me feel like if he really had an interest, he would have already called me.”
Full piece below:
How F1 champion-elect Antonelli has vindicated Wolff’s bravest Mercedes move
Lando Norris after Friday practice:
21:50 , Kieran JacksonAre McLaren in the fight today?
"Difficult," Norris said. "The pace is not bad. We seem a step away from Red Bull and Ferrari, probably Mercedes as well, but the car is very difficult to drive, too difficult to be consistent and get a nice feeling consistently.
"To get the car be quick we just have to try so hard to be perfect and you can't be perfect. I am sure everyone has similar problems in a way but we are just not quick enough yet to be there consistently enough."
Top-10 - Driver standings ahead of US Grand Prix
21:45 , Kieran Jackson1. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) - 340 points
2. George Russell (Mercedes) - 238 points
3. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) - 229 points
4. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) - 221 points
5. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) - 215 points
6. Lando Norris (McLaren) - 201 points
7. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) - 138 points
8. Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) - 97 points
9. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) - 75 points
10. Pierre Gasly (Alpine) - 41 points
A reminder what Antonelli needs on Sunday:
21:30 , Kieran JacksonAntonelli needs to increase his lead by 23 points. Therefore, at a minimum, Antonelli must win the grand prix (25 points) on Sunday. If he doesn’t, he cannot win the championship in Austin.
If he does win the race, only Russell finishing ninth or lower and Lewis Hamilton (who trails the Italian by 111 points) finishing fifth or lower would hand Antonelli the title this weekend.
If these three scenarios do not take place, it’s on to the Mexico City Grand Prix on 1 November.
A reminder what Antonelli needs on Sunday
20:15 , Kieran JacksonAntonelli needs to increase his lead by 23 points. Therefore, at a minimum, Antonelli must win the grand prix (25 points) on Sunday. If he doesn’t, he cannot win the championship in Austin.
If he does win the race, only Russell finishing ninth or lower and Lewis Hamilton (who trails the Italian by 111 points) finishing fifth or lower would hand Antonelli the title this weekend.
If these three scenarios do not take place, it’s on to the Mexico City Grand Prix on 1 November.
Positions 11-20 in FP3
20:00 , Kieran Jackson11. Lawson
12. Lindblad
13. Bortoleto
14. Bearman
15. Colapinto
16. Alonso
17. Ocon
18. Stroll
19. Albon
20. Sainz
21. Perez
22. Bottas
Top-10 in FP3
19:45 , Kieran Jackson1. Lewis Hamilton
2. Max Verstappen
3. Charles Leclerc
4. Kimi Antonelli
5. George Russell
6. Oscar Piastri
7. Nico Hulkenberg
8. Lando Norris
9. Pierre Gasly
10. Isack Hadjar
What time is qualifying?
19:35 , Kieran JacksonQualifying at the Circuit of the Americas is at 10pm (BST).
Lewis Hamilton quickest in FP3
19:32 , Kieran JacksonFerrari top all three practice sessions but this time it’s Lewis Hamilton top of the tree!
The Brit is 0.168 secs quicker than Max Verstappen at the top, with Leclerc completing the top-three.
4-10: Antonelli, Russell, Piastri, Hulkenberg, Norris, Gasly, Hadjar
Top-five times
19:27 , Kieran Jackson1. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) - 1:34.893
2. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) +0.168
3. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) +0.234
4. George Russell (Mercedes) +0.488
5. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) +0.560
Hamilton fastest
19:26 , Kieran JacksonHello Lewis!
Hamilton goes top with a 1:34:893 - 0.168 secs ahead of Max Verstappen, with teammate Charles Leclerc in third, on mediums.
4-10: Russell, Antonelli, Piastri, Hulkenberg, Norris, Gasly, Hadjar
Will we have any late shake-ups to that order?
Antonelli's lap time deleted
19:20 , Kieran JacksonOh.
Antonelli over the white line at turn nine. Lap deleted.
Can’t afford to do that in qualifying later!
Antonelli above Leclerc
19:20 , Kieran JacksonThe championship leader now goes top with a 1:35;015, putting on the softs.
Final laps coming in over the final 10 minutes...
Top-10 after 30 mins
19:05 , Kieran JacksonLeclerc back on top!
1. Leclerc
2. Hamilton
3. Antonelli
4. Verstappen
5. Norris
6. Piastri
7. Russell
8. Hadjar
9. Lawson
10. Bearman
Max Verstappen on team radio:
18:57 , Kieran Jackson“It’s so dumb! Why are the shifts so bad?”
The Dutchman is not happy... and yet is still fairly content in P2.
Meanwhile, Ferrari have dolloped a load of flow-vis paint on the side of Hamilton’s car... wonder what they’re looking at?!
Lewis Hamilton quickest
18:52 , Kieran JacksonFerrari looking quick again - but this time it’s Lewis Hamilton!
He’s top in the early qualifying simulations, 0.141 secs ahead of Max Verstappen.
Oscar Piastri, Kimi Antonelli and Liam Lawson complete the first 20-minute top-five.
Handful of cars out so far
18:42 , Kieran JacksonTypically with FP3, it’s a slow start.
Just four cars out on track so far - Pierre Gasly tops them.
What did Leclerc say after Friday practice?
18:39 , Kieran Jackson"It felt good but it is not the gain I have seen or heard about," Leclerc said. "It is small gains but we could still see them on the car. It is a small step forward and we started the weekend on the right foot with a good balance and that is the outstanding thing with this Friday.
"It has been a very clean Friday for me, but the others seem to be gaining more than us from Friday to Saturday and seeing the little gap there is, it is not going to be so easy tomorrow."
FP3 in Austin
18:30 , Kieran JacksonHere we go then with the third and final hour of practice at the Circuit of the Americas.
Charles Leclerc was fastest in both sessions on Friday - can the Ferrari driver make it a hat-trick today?
Lando Norris and Max Verstappen reveal toll F1 cars are taking on their spines in Austin
18:24 , Kieran JacksonLando Norris and Max Verstappen noted the damage driving a Formula One car is doing to their spines as the Dutchman labelled the bumps at the Circuit of the Americas as “unacceptable”.
The Formula One circus has arrived in Austin for this weekend’s United States Grand Prix at one of the most popular tracks on the calendar.
But Verstappen, who stressed how much he enjoys the race, hit out at the track surface and says F1 drivers should not accept racing on tracks that are so bumpy.
More below:
Norris and Verstappen reveal toll F1 cars are taking on their spines in Austin
Top-10 - Driver standings ahead of US Grand Prix
18:20 , Kieran Jackson1. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) - 340 points
2. George Russell (Mercedes) - 238 points
3. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) - 229 points
4. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) - 221 points
5. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) - 215 points
6. Lando Norris (McLaren) - 201 points
7. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) - 138 points
8. Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) - 97 points
9. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) - 75 points
10. Pierre Gasly (Alpine) - 41 points
Start times in Austin:
18:13 , Kieran JacksonTimes BST
Saturday 24 October
- Free practice 3: 6:30pm
- Qualifying: 10pm
Sunday 25 October
- Race: 8pm
F1 United States Grand Prix LIVE
18:11 , Kieran JacksonFormula 1 returns to the Circuit of the Americas this weekend for the United States Grand Prix - as Kimi Antonelli stands on the cusp of his first world championship.
The 20-year-old Italian holds a 102-point lead over Mercedes teammate George Russell and will win his first title if he wins this Sunday’s grand prix and Russell finishes ninth or lower. Antonelli also needs Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton to finish fifth or lower.
A podium last time out in Singapore extended Antonelli’s lead, as Max Verstappen claimed his second victory in a row amid a Red Bull resurgence this season. Russell, meanwhile, only finished ninth and crashed out of the sprint race in Marina Bay.
The popular race in Austin is the start of another triple-header, with Mexico and Brazil to follow in the weeks ahead. Verstappen was victorious at COTA last year.
