2025 US Grand Prix Preview

(Image credit: @F1)

Guide to 2025 US Grand Prix as the title fight rumbles on into Austin, Texas, USA. 

With the constructors’ title now sewn up, McLaren turn their focus now to the battle between their drivers – Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, with the pair split by 22 points in the drivers’ standings coming into this sprint weekend.

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen however lingers 63 points off the title lead as he seeks an unlikely comeback to maintain his title, on a weekend which could be one of the defining rounds in the title race.

Alpine, Aston Martin, Haas, McLaren, Racing Bulls and Williams meanwhile will sport special liveries for the weekend.

Now, here is a full preview of everything that you need to know ahead of 2025 US Grand Prix.

 

Track Guide

COTA Layout

Circuit: Circuit of the Americas

Laps: 56

Race Distance: 308.405km

Tyre Compounds: C1, C3 & C4

 

Schedule

Date Session Time (BST)
Friday 17 October Practice 6:30pm
Friday 17 October Sprint Shootout 10:30pm
Saturday 18 October Sprint 6:00pm
Saturday 18 October Qualifying 10:00pm
Sunday 19 October Race 8:00pm

 

Five Key Pointers

  • With just one hour of practice to understand the car setup and adapt to some asphalt repaving done to parts of the track.
  • A clean start with brakes up to temperature will be key for those who find themselves in midfield heading into the tight opening uphill corner in the race.
  • Braking will be key at Turn 11 because any lock-ups could leave drivers out wide and vulnerable down the back straight towards Turn 12, where gusty wind could cause rear stability issues amidst track limits.
  • Two-stop strategies have been common in recent visits to Texas so expect two-stop strategies to once again be the case, with some opting for soft tyres in Sprint to save hard and mediums for the main race.
  • Hot temperatures are forecast across the entire weekend which could make tyre management a crucial element to how the sprint and Grand Prix both play out.

Last Time Out

Verstappen dominated the sprint race last year en-route to his fourth world title, but could only finish third in the Grand Prix after a controversial penalty for Norris, as Charles Leclerc took victory from Carlos Sainz in a Ferrari one-two finish.

 

2025 Season Recaps

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