F1: One week to Austin as Mercedes eye Constructors title at COTA
Kimi Antonelli protects a 102-point cushion with Mercedes poised to seal the championship in Texas.
The countdown to the Circuit of the Americas
With exactly one week until cars take to the track for opening practice, the Formula 1 paddock turns its attention toward Austin, Texas for the 2026 United States Grand Prix (23-25 October).
The 5.513-kilometer Circuit of the Americas will host the 19th round of the championship across 56 laps on Sunday 25 October. The Austin stop features a Sprint format, placing additional championship points on offer across the three-day weekend.
Championship permutations
Kimi Antonelli sits atop the drivers’ championship with 340 points following his podium finish in Singapore. His Mercedes teammate George Russell occupies second position with 238 points, leaving a gap of 102 points with six race weekends remaining. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen sits third on 221 points after his victory under the lights at Marina Bay.
In the constructors’ championship, Mercedes have amassed 578 points, holding a 134-point advantage over Scuderia Ferrari (444 points). McLaren follow in third place with 339 points.
Mercedes have an opportunity to mathematically secure the 2026 Constructors’ Championship in Austin if they outscore Ferrari by the required margin across the Sprint and Grand Prix. No sessions have taken place yet, and all competitive timing begins on 23 October.
Sources
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