The opening practice sessions for the 2026 Formula 1 United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, are set to kick off with Practice 1 at 12:30 local time, followed by Practice 2 at 16:00. This weekend marks the 18th round of the current world championship season and presents the first mathematical opportunity for Andrea Kimi Antonelli to wrap up this year's drivers' crown.
The Italian youngster currently leads the standings by 102 points over George Russell, following a disastrous race weekend in Singapore for the British driver. To secure the championship with five rounds remaining after Sunday's race, Antonelli will need to extend his championship advantage to a commanding 125 points.
Antonelli has claimed eight victories so far this season, more than any other competitor on the grid, yet he has not stood on the top step of the podium since his memorable triumph at Monza back in September. Meanwhile, Max Verstappen has emerged as the most in-form driver on the grid, winning the last two consecutive Grands Prix and arriving in Texas as the defending event winner.
Ahead of the on-track action, McLaren and Red Bull are among the frontline outfits introducing notable car updates this weekend. Ferrari has also brought new parts to COTA, although Lewis Hamilton remained rather unconvinced regarding their potential performance gains when speaking to media representatives prior to the opening practice.
Aside from the championship permutations and car upgrades, the bumpy surface of the Austin circuit continues to draw complaints from the paddock. Reigning champion Lando Norris joined the criticism ahead of the weekend, humorously stating that he requires headache tablets to cope with the severe bouncing across the lap.
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