Key Facts
- Event: Formula 1 MSC Cruises United States Grand Prix, Round 18 of 2026, at Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas.
- Friday, 23 October: Practice 1 at 1:30 p.m. ET (12:30 p.m. Austin time); Practice 2 at 5:00 p.m. ET (4:00 p.m.).
- Saturday, 24 October: Practice 3 at 1:30 p.m. ET (12:30 p.m. Austin); qualifying at 5:00 p.m. ET (4:00 p.m.).
- Race: Sunday, 25 October, 4:00 p.m. ET (3:00 p.m. Austin, 20:00 UTC), 56 laps, 308.432 km.
- Title race: Kimi Antonelli leads the drivers’ standings by 102 points and could clinch the title in Austin.
- Prediction markets: Polymarket gives Max Verstappen 45% and Kimi Antonelli 26% to win Sunday’s race (23 October, 3:30 a.m. ET).
The United States Grand Prix weekend opens today at Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas, with the first practice session at 1:30 p.m. ET (12:30 p.m. local time). It is the first of three back-to-back races in the Americas, as covered in our US Grand Prix 2026 live hub.
This story is part of our coverage of the us grand prix 2026. Dates, times and how to follow it are in our guide.
For American fans, all three days fall in the afternoon, with the race at 4:00 p.m. ET on Sunday. Formula 1 lists Austin as Round 18 of the 2026 season, followed by Mexico and Brazil.
Weekend Schedule in ET
Practice 1 runs from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. ET on Friday, 23 October, and Practice 2 from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET. Local times in Austin, which is five hours behind UTC, are 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
On Saturday, 24 October, the final practice session runs from 1:30 p.m. ET (12:30 p.m. local), and qualifying follows at 5:00 p.m. ET (4:00 p.m. local). The race starts on Sunday, 25 October, at 4:00 p.m. ET, which is 3:00 p.m. in Austin and 20:00 UTC.
Distance and Championship Stakes
The race covers 56 laps of the 5.513-kilometre circuit, a planned distance of 308.432 km. Formula 1’s standings show Kimi Antonelli on 340 points, 102 clear of George Russell on 238. Formula 1 says he could theoretically secure the title in Austin.
Max Verstappen won the Singapore Grand Prix on his 10th attempt at that race and is fourth in the standings. Formula 1’s official results page shows no race results yet, so no winner or podium can be reported.
How to Watch in the US
In the US, Apple TV is Formula 1’s official broadcaster in 2026 and shows every session. F1 TV Premium, with onboard cameras and live timing, is included with an Apple TV subscription.
What Prediction Markets Say
On Polymarket, a crypto-based prediction platform, traders rate Max Verstappen the favourite for Sunday’s race at 45%, ahead of Kimi Antonelli at 26%. George Russell is at 9%, Lewis Hamilton at 8%, Charles Leclerc at 7.5% and Lando Norris at 7%, as of 23 October at 3:30 a.m. ET.
About US$10,951 had been traded on that race market. The separate season-title market, with about US$205 million traded, gives Antonelli 97.9%; these prices are bets, not forecasts or poll results.
Why we show this: prediction markets turn real-money bets into a live probability that moves within minutes of the news, which is why investors, campaigns and newsrooms in the United States now follow them closely. We show them next to polls and official results, never instead of them.
What It Means for US Readers
This is a Formula 1 weekend held on US soil, with a race start that suits an American afternoon. A title decided here would be settled in front of the sport’s biggest growth audience.
Austin also opens the Americas stretch that continues in Mexico City and São Paulo. Results here will show whether Antonelli’s lead holds up before those races.
What Is Not Known
No practice times, incidents or stewards’ decisions are available yet. McLaren’s announced upgrade package for Austin cannot be judged until there are confirmed lap times.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the 2026 United States Grand Prix start?
The race starts on Sunday, 25 October, at 4:00 p.m. ET (3:00 p.m. in Austin, 20:00 UTC). Qualifying is on Saturday at 5:00 p.m. ET.
What is at stake in the championship at Austin?
Kimi Antonelli leads the drivers’ standings by 102 points, and Formula 1 says he could theoretically clinch the title in Austin. Max Verstappen is fourth.
How can US viewers watch the race?
Apple TV is the official US broadcaster for 2026 and shows every session. F1 TV Premium is included with an Apple TV subscription.
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief