The FIA Formula One World Championship heads to Austin, Texas, for the United States Grand Prix, the 18th round of the 2026 season, with Kimi Antonelli bidding for the Drivers' World Championship crown on Sunday.
This weekend, Austin, Texas, the Lone Star State, celebrates the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of The Americas (COTA), the first leg of a triple-header in the Americas.
Arriving on American soil with a 102-point lead in the Drivers' World Championship, Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli could become the youngest-ever F1 champion on Sunday.
The perfect scenario for the 20-year-old to seal his first title at the pinnacle of motorsport this weekend is quite tricky but mathematically possible.
Antonelli must win the Grand Prix while teammate George Russell finishes in ninth place or lower.
Also, Scuderia Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton — currently third overall — would have to finish Sunday's race fifth or lower.
The Mercedes driver who has taken the series by storm with brilliant performances has thus far collected eight victories and six pole positions.
One thing is certain: all eyes will be on the young Italian driver as he inches closer to motorsport glory.
The Circuit
The fully anticlockwise track spans 5.513 km (3.426 miles) and features 20 turns over 56 laps, with overtaking action guaranteed.
The demanding layout includes a distinctive first sector, a 134-foot (40 m) climb off the line to a wide left-hander, Turn 1, one of the highest elevation changes.
The uphill run presents a singular challenge for the drivers, leading to an interconnected series of esses all the way to the hairpin at Turn 11.
A lengthy back straight follows, probably the best overtaking spot on the track, carrying drivers into the final sector where a sequence of high-speed corners, the triple-apex right-hand test of Turns 16, 17, and 18, awaits.
Pirelli, Formula One official tire supplier, is bringing the C2 (Hard), C3 (Medium) and C4 (Soft) compounds to Austin.
In a news release, the Italian company remarks: "The asphalt surface is not particularly abrasive.
"A section of the circuit between Turns 9 and 11 was resurfaced earlier this year. However, the ageing effect on the remainder of the track continues to be significant and contributes to high wear levels."
Adding: "Tyre wear, rather than graining, could therefore prove to be one of the key factors over the weekend."
After 17 rounds, Mercedes leads the Constructors' Championship with 578 points; Ferrari sits second (444 points) while the battle for third tightens with just seven points separating McLaren and Red Bull Racing.