F1 Austin countdown: Mercedes target Constructors crown at Circuit of the Americas
Antonelli holds a 102-point lead over Russell. Mercedes lead Ferrari by 134 points ahead of Texas.
Looking ahead to the Circuit of the Americas
The Formula 1 paddock heads to Austin, Texas, for the United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) on 23-25 October 2026. The 56-lap Grand Prix is scheduled for Sunday 25 October at 15:00 local time (20:00 UTC).
The 5.513 km circuit has hosted Formula 1 since 2012. Austin will stage a Sprint weekend, offering a maximum of 34 points for a driver who wins both Saturday’s Sprint race and Sunday’s full Grand Prix with fastest lap.
Championship standings and Austin clinching scenarios
Kimi Antonelli leads the World Drivers’ Championship with 340 points. Mercedes teammate George Russell sits second with 238 points, a gap of 102 points. Lewis Hamilton is third for Ferrari on 229 points. Max Verstappen sits fourth with 221 points following his pole-to-flag victory at the Singapore Grand Prix, with Charles Leclerc fifth on 215 points.
In the Constructors’ Championship, Mercedes lead with 578 points ahead of Ferrari (444 points), McLaren (339 points), and Red Bull (332 points). With a 134-point advantage over Ferrari, Mercedes can mathematically secure the 2026 Constructors’ Championship in Austin if they outscore Ferrari by 14 or more points across the Sprint and Grand Prix.
Sources
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