News Summary
- Kimi Antonelli starts the 2026 United States Grand Prix from pole position and could secure his first Formula 1 World Championship, but Max Verstappen and Ferrari are determined to challenge Mercedes in Austin.
- Alpine has defended Franco Colapinto following Jeremy Clarkson’s controversial remarks, while Liam Lawson has explained why Racing Bulls prevented him from completing a Q3 lap.
- Three power-unit penalties have changed the starting grid, with Gabriel Bortoleto relegated to last place. The United States Grand Prix begins at 15:00 local time on Sunday, October 25.
Formula 1 reaches a potentially decisive moment in the 2026 World Championship this Sunday (October 25), with Kimi Antonelli starting the United States Grand Prix from pole position and facing his first opportunity to secure the Drivers’ title. Max Verstappen will line up alongside the Mercedes driver, while Ferrari hopes to turn its impressive practice performance into a challenge for victory at Circuit of The Americas.
Away from the championship battle, the Austin weekend has produced several important developments. Alpine publicly defended Franco Colapinto following controversial remarks by Jeremy Clarkson, Liam Lawson expressed frustration over Racing Bulls’ qualifying strategy, and three drivers received grid penalties for exceeding their permitted power-unit component allocations. Here are the seven major Formula 1 stories covered by GRANDE PRÊMIO ahead of Sunday’s race.
Antonelli defeats Verstappen to claim pole as Ferrari’s Austin hopes collapse
Kimi Antonelli secured pole position for the United States Grand Prix, producing a lap of 1min34s035 to defeat Max Verstappen by 0.179 seconds in Saturday’s qualifying session.
The result represented an important turnaround for Mercedes, which had struggled to match Ferrari during practice. Charles Leclerc topped both Friday sessions, while Lewis Hamilton led FP3, giving the Italian manufacturer the fastest lap in all three free-practice sessions.
However, Antonelli produced the decisive performance in Q3, beating Verstappen and Isack Hadjar, who completed the top three for Red Bull.
Leclerc qualified fourth for Ferrari, followed by Hamilton and George Russell. Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris occupied seventh and eighth for McLaren, with Norris losing his fastest Q3 lap for exceeding track limits.
The pole strengthens Antonelli’s championship position, but Red Bull’s performance suggests the Mercedes driver will face a difficult challenge over Sunday’s 56-lap race.
Read the full story: Antonelli denies Verstappen in Austin qualifying as Ferrari’s pole hopes collapse.
Antonelli can become F1 World Champion in Austin, but needs help from Russell and Hamilton
The United States Grand Prix offers Antonelli his first mathematical opportunity to secure the 2026 Formula 1 World Championship, although victory alone will not guarantee the title.
The Italian arrived in Austin with 340 points, holding a 102-point advantage over Mercedes teammate George Russell and a 111-point lead over Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton.
With five Grands Prix remaining after the United States, a maximum of 125 points will still be available following Sunday’s race.
To become champion in Austin, Antonelli must win the Grand Prix while Russell finishes ninth or lower and Hamilton fifth or lower.
Russell starts sixth, meaning he must lose at least three places for Antonelli to have an opportunity to clinch the title. Hamilton qualified fifth, exactly the highest finishing position that would still allow the Mercedes driver to become champion if the other conditions are satisfied.
The possibility of securing the title on countback is also significant. Antonelli has already won eight Grands Prix this season, while Russell has three victories. Another win would establish an advantage that Russell could not overcome even by winning all five remaining races.
Read the full story: How can Antonelli win the 2026 F1 title at Austin after taking pole position?.
Lawson reveals why Racing Bulls refused to let him complete Q3 lap
Liam Lawson has revealed that Racing Bulls prevented him from completing a flying lap in Q3, despite the New Zealander reaching the final segment of qualifying with two unused sets of tyres.
The team decided to preserve the tyres for Sunday’s race rather than use them in an attempt to improve his qualifying position.
Lawson acknowledged that he wanted to continue and admitted feeling frustrated by the instruction, particularly after a strong weekend in which Racing Bulls had shown encouraging pace.
The strategy was influenced by teammate Arvid Lindblad’s five-place grid penalty, which meant Lawson was already expected to move forward on the starting grid.
The New Zealander qualified tenth but will start ninth, directly behind the two McLarens and ahead of Pierre Gasly.
Racing Bulls believes the additional tyre options could prove valuable during the race, especially if degradation is greater than expected or if alternative pit-stop strategies become necessary.
The Austin performance also arrives at an important stage of Lawson’s career, with the team yet to officially confirm its driver line-up for 2027.
Read the full story: Lawson explains why Racing Bulls stopped him from setting Q3 lap at United States GP.
Alpine defends Colapinto after controversial Clarkson remarks
Alpine has publicly defended Franco Colapinto after Jeremy Clarkson made a controversial joke about the Argentine driver’s nationality during a Sky Sports F1 interview in Austin.
The former Top Gear presenter was attending the United States Grand Prix as a guest of Alpine when he suggested that Colapinto deserved a grid penalty simply for being Argentine.
Clarkson connected the remark to a controversial 2014 visit to Argentina while filming a Top Gear special, when a vehicle registration plate was interpreted by some residents as a reference to the Falklands War.
The comments prompted criticism and led Alpine to issue a public statement distancing itself from its guest.
The French team said that the remarks represented personal views that did not reflect its values of kindness and respect. Alpine also reaffirmed its support for Colapinto.
The Argentine driver’s manager, Jamie Campbell-Walter, condemned the remarks and emphasised the importance of maintaining respectful behaviour within Formula 1.
Clarkson also criticised the increasing attention given to celebrities at Grands Prix, specifically questioning the focus on Kim Kardashian during recent events.
Read the full story: Jeremy Clarkson sparks F1 controversy with Colapinto joke as Alpine publicly backs Argentine driver.
Bortoleto, Colapinto and Lindblad receive grid penalties for United States GP
Three power-unit penalties have reshaped the starting grid for Sunday’s United States Grand Prix, with Gabriel Bortoleto facing the biggest setback.
The Brazilian qualified 13th for Audi but will start 22nd and last after the team exceeded its permitted allocation of several power-unit components.
Bortoleto initially received a 20-place penalty, but further replacements increased his accumulated sanctions, forcing him to start from the back.
Colapinto also faces a difficult race after Alpine fitted an additional control electronics unit, resulting in a ten-place grid penalty. The Argentine will start 21st, directly ahead of Bortoleto.
Lindblad received a five-place sanction for using his sixth internal-combustion engine of the season. The Racing Bulls rookie qualified ninth but drops to 14th.
The changes promote Lawson, Gasly, Nico Hülkenberg, Fernando Alonso and Oliver Bearman, altering the midfield battle before the opening lap.
The penalties have also created an opportunity for Lawson to start inside the top ten, while Bortoleto and Colapinto must attempt to recover from the final row.
Read the full story: Three F1 drivers handed penalties as US Grand Prix starting grid changes.
United States Grand Prix starts today as UK, India and Australia face different race times
The 2026 Formula 1 United States Grand Prix begins at 15:00 local time in Austin on Sunday, October 25, with drivers completing 56 laps of Circuit of The Americas.
For fans in the United States, the race starts at 16:00 Eastern Time and 13:00 Pacific Time.
British viewers will watch at 20:00 GMT, following the end of British Summer Time earlier on Sunday. The clock change reduces the time difference between the United Kingdom and Texas from six hours to five.
In India, the Grand Prix begins at 01:30 IST on Monday, October 26. Australian viewers in Sydney and Melbourne will see the race start at 07:00 AEDT, while New Zealand fans can follow the action from 09:00 NZDT.
United States Grand Prix 2026 — International race start times
| Country / Region | Race start |
|---|---|
| United States — Austin | Sunday, 15:00 CDT |
| United States — New York | Sunday, 16:00 EDT |
| United States — Los Angeles | Sunday, 13:00 PDT |
| United Kingdom | Sunday, 20:00 GMT |
| Canada — Toronto | Sunday, 16:00 EDT |
| India | Monday, 01:30 IST |
| Australia — Sydney | Monday, 07:00 AEDT |
| New Zealand — Auckland | Monday, 09:00 NZDT |
Live coverage is available through Apple TV in the United States, Sky Sports in the United Kingdom, FanCode and eligible F1 TV subscriptions in India, Fox Sports and Kayo in Australia, and Sky Sport in New Zealand.
Read the full story: What time is the United States F1 Grand Prix today? Start times worldwide.
GRANDE PRÊMIO is following every session of the United States Grand Prix at Circuit of The Americas this weekend, with breaking news, full coverage and real-time updates in its Formula 1 section.
FAQ
What are the biggest Formula 1 stories today, October 25, 2026?
Kimi Antonelli starts the United States Grand Prix from pole and could win the World Championship. Other major stories include Ferrari’s strong Austin practice performance, Lawson’s qualifying strategy, Alpine’s response to Clarkson’s remarks and the grid penalties imposed on three drivers.
Can Antonelli become the 2026 Formula 1 World Champion today?
Yes. Antonelli must win the United States Grand Prix, with George Russell finishing ninth or lower and Lewis Hamilton fifth or lower, to secure the championship in Austin.
What time does the United States Grand Prix start today?
The race starts at 15:00 local time in Austin on Sunday, October 25, corresponding to 20:00 GMT in the United Kingdom, 01:30 IST on Monday in India and 09:00 NZDT on Monday in New Zealand.
