Practice, qualifying, race
Grand Prix race reports, qualifying recaps and practice notes from every F1 weekend, with results, key moments and what they mean for the title fight.
Charles Leclerc set the fastest time at the Circuit of the Americas with a 1:36.052 lap using an upgraded Ferrari SF-26. Max Verstappen finished second, narrowly beating Lando Norris, while Kimi Antonelli placed fifth during the session.
Arvid Lindblad, Gabriel Bortleto, and Franco Colapinto will drop down the grid at the Circuit of the Americas due to power unit component changes. Bortleto faces a 20-place penalty for exceeding limits on energy stores and control electronics, while Colapinto receives a 10-place sanction.
Max Verstappen anticipates a difficult weekend at the Circuit of the Americas due to the track's notorious bumps. Despite Red Bull's recent form, the driver remains cautious about his ability to fight for a win given the uneven surface and upcoming challenges in Mexico.
Mercedes driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli can become the youngest Formula 1 champion in history this weekend in Austin. The 20-year-old leads George Russell by 102 points and needs a victory to secure the championship title.
COTA chairman Bobby Epstein aims to create a new Guinness World Record by building a 75-foot fiberglass cowboy hat in the Lone Star Land fan area. The Western-themed structure will house a bar and serves as a new landmark for the Austin circuit during the upcoming race weekend.
Formula 1 intends to maintain its scheduled Middle Eastern races despite Houthi missile attacks in the region. While F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali previously promised a decision by mid-September, the sport is proceeding with the Qatar and Abu Dhabi rounds as planned.
George Russell will postpone a grid penalty for a new Mercedes power unit until the Las Vegas Grand Prix to avoid overtaking difficulties in Austin. His teammate Andrea Antonelli holds a 102-point lead over Russell with six rounds remaining in the 2026 championship season.
George Russell's Mercedes W17 single-lap speed faces Lando Norris's McLaren MCL40 race-pace consistency at the Austin circuit. High tire degradation at COTA favors the McLaren's superior long-run stability over the Mercedes energy management challenges.
The 2026 F1 regulations introduce a 100mm narrower front wing and in-washing wheel wake control boards to reduce turbulent wake. These changes aim to improve racing quality by managing the complex interaction between wing tip vortices and front wheel airflow.
The 2026 Formula 1 regulations introduce Overtake Mode, which provides 0.5 megajoules of electrical energy to drivers within one second of a rival. This system replaces the traditional DRS with a power-based deployment to facilitate overtaking.
The 2026 Formula 1 regulations mandate a 50/50 power split between the engine and electrical energy, forcing drivers to prioritize battery harvesting at high-speed corners like Suzuka. Aston Martin faces additional challenges due to a 1.5 second per lap deficit caused by Honda engine vibrations.
New energy-based fuel flow limits of 3000Mj/hr and a reduced 70kg race fuel allowance force a strategic trade-off between engine performance and car agility. Haas must balance Ferrari engine efficiency with Kevin Magnussen's fuel load management at the Yas Marina Circuit.
The T1 electronic flag panel uses high performance LEDs to replace traditional human flag wavers at the Marina Bay Street Circuit. This digital signaling system improves marshal safety by allowing personnel to remain at a distance from the track during racing activities.