United States GP: UK schedule as F1 returns to COTA

Find out the race-week schedule, weather and how to watch the United States Grand Prix weekend in Austin, Texas; watch the United States GP at 8pm on Sunday October 25 with build-up from 6.30pm, live on Sky Sports F1 and Main Event

Following an extended stint across Asia, Formula 1 heads to America for the United States Grand Prix at the iconic Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas.

After the previous triple-header saw Kimi Antonelli move closer to a maiden F1 title, the Mercedes driver enters three more back-to-back races knowing he has every chance of sealing a historic triumph.

The Italian is 102 points clear of his Mercedes team-mate George Russell at the top of the standings, with the first two victories of the year for Red Bull and Max Verstappen only having helped Antonelli move clear of the pack, leaving him with a small chance of being crowned champion in Austin.

While both Antonelli and Mercedes are in remarkably strong positions in the championships, the competitive picture has rarely been more exciting during the 2026 season, with each of the top four teams entering each weekend with genuine hopes of victory.

Many eyes will be on Antonelli, but Verstappen's quest to complete a hat-trick of wins, along with Lewis Hamilton's attempts to bounce back from a tough Sunday in Singapore promise to provide plenty of entertainment.

Of the newer permanent circuits to have joined the calendar over the past couple of decades, the Circuit of the Americas is certainly one of the very best.

The undulating 3.4-mile, 20-corner layout built on the outskirts of Austin quickly proved a hit with drivers when it made its debut in 2021 as F1's first made-to-measure home in the USA.

There was also a sense of familiarity given its track design took inspiration from some of Europe's most famous tracks.

An Esses section reminiscent of Silverstone's legendary high-speed Maggotts and Becketts complex at Silverstone makes up Turns Three to Six, while a reverse triple-apex challenge in the style of Istanbul Park's Turn Eight and a Hockenheim-style arena section all feature in the exciting anti-clockwise lap.

The circuit even has its own signature feature in the form of a steep uphill run to the first corner, which has been the scene of numerous overtakes and controversial incidents over the past 13 years when drivers go wheel-to-wheel into the wide braking zone before powering back downhill towards the Esses.

Temperatures are expected to climb above 30 degrees Celsius on all three days of track action, but the wild card is whether rain is going to play apart.

The latest forecast suggests there's a 50 per cent chance of rain falling during the race, with showers also possible on Friday and Saturday.

Thursday October 22 6.25pm: F1 Academy Practice 8pm: Drivers' Press Conference 10.30pm: F1 Academy Qualifying 11.10pm: Paddock Uncut