Austin paddock opens: Antonelli holds 102-point lead

Two days until practice in Austin

Circuit of the Americas buzzed with media briefings and garage construction on Wednesday, 21 October, two days before on-track running begins for the United States Grand Prix. Free Practice 1 is scheduled for Friday, 23 October, leading to qualifying on Saturday and the 56-lap grand prix on Sunday, 25 October, at 15:00 local time. The 5.513 km circuit features 20 turns and a 41-meter elevation climb into turn 1.

No engines have fired for competitive sessions on Wednesday, and no practice times exist. The championship standings reflect the results of the Singapore Grand Prix, where Max Verstappen secured victory from pole position. Mercedes prodigy Kimi Antonelli leads the drivers’ championship with 340 points, holding a 102-point margin over teammate George Russell on 238.

Title arithmetic and constructor race

Lewis Hamilton ranks third on 229 points, followed closely by Verstappen on 221, Charles Leclerc on 215 and Lando Norris on 201. In the constructors’ championship, Mercedes sit commanding on 578 points, 134 ahead of Ferrari on 444, with McLaren third on 339. Antonelli could theoretically clinch the world title in Austin only by winning Sunday’s race while rivals drop maximum points. With six rounds remaining, Texas marks the opening chapter of the season-defining American triple-header.