News Summary
- The 2026 United States Grand Prix is not a sprint weekend, ending Austin’s three-year run of hosting the shorter race format.
- Circuit of The Americas will host three free-practice sessions, qualifying on Saturday, October 24, and the Grand Prix on Sunday, October 25.
- The 2026 F1 sprint calendar features China, Miami, Canada, Great Britain, the Netherlands and Singapore, with Austin excluded.
The 2026 Formula 1 United States Grand Prix will not feature a sprint race, with Circuit of The Americas returning to the traditional weekend format after hosting sprint events in 2023, 2024 and 2025.
Instead, drivers will have three free-practice sessions before qualifying on Saturday, October 24, and the 56-lap Grand Prix on Sunday, October 25. The change gives teams additional track time to prepare their cars, particularly important for Ferrari, Red Bull and Mercedes as they continue developing their 2026 packages.
Austin is the 18th round of the championship and begins the final six-race stretch, with Kimi Antonelli leading George Russell by 102 points and Max Verstappen arriving after consecutive victories in Malaysia and Singapore.
Is there an F1 sprint race at Austin in 2026?
No. Austin is not one of the six sprint venues selected for the 2026 Formula 1 season.
The championship has returned Circuit of The Americas to the standard Grand Prix format, meaning Friday will feature two practice sessions rather than a single practice session followed by sprint qualifying.
Saturday will begin with a third practice session before the traditional three-part qualifying format determines the starting grid for Sunday’s race.
The change is significant because Austin hosted sprint weekends in each of the previous three seasons, making the shorter format familiar to spectators attending the United States Grand Prix.
However, the circuit’s exclusion from the 2026 sprint calendar does not mean the United States has lost its sprint event entirely.
Miami hosted the country’s sprint race earlier this season, continuing its place among the six selected venues.
United States GP 2026: Full weekend schedule
The United States Grand Prix takes place from October 23–25 at Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas.
| Date | Session | Austin (CDT) | UK | India (IST) | Brasília (BRT) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fri, Oct 23 | FP1 | 12:30 | 18:30 BST | 23:00 | 14:30 |
| Fri, Oct 23 | FP2 | 16:00 | 22:00 BST | Sat 02:30 | 18:00 |
| Sat, Oct 24 | FP3 | 12:30 | 18:30 BST | 23:00 | 14:30 |
| Sat, Oct 24 | Qualifying | 16:00 | 22:00 BST | Sun 02:30 | 18:00 |
| Sun, Oct 25 | Grand Prix | 15:00 | 20:00 GMT | Mon 01:30 | 17:00 |
The United Kingdom switches from British Summer Time to Greenwich Mean Time early on Sunday, October 25. All times refer to session starts.
The Grand Prix will cover 56 laps of the 5.513km circuit, for a total distance of 308.405km.
Why is Austin no longer an F1 sprint weekend?
Formula 1 selected six venues for its 2026 sprint calendar, introducing several changes compared with the previous season.
China and Miami retained their sprint events, while Canada, Great Britain, the Netherlands and Singapore completed the programme.
Austin was not selected after hosting three consecutive sprint weekends.
The championship has not publicly identified a single sporting or technical reason specifically responsible for Austin’s removal. The decision forms part of the annual selection of sprint venues agreed by Formula 1 and the FIA.
The change restores the traditional schedule at Circuit of The Americas, allowing teams three hours of free practice instead of the single hour available before sprint qualifying.
That additional preparation time could be valuable for teams introducing upgrades or attempting to solve handling problems.
Ferrari is bringing its final major aerodynamic package of 2026 to Austin, centred on a redesigned floor and revisions to the SF-26’s bodywork.
The extra practice sessions will give Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc more opportunities to evaluate the package before qualifying.
Red Bull will also use the weekend to assess whether its recent improvements can be reproduced at a circuit combining high-speed corners, long straights and slow-speed sections.
Which F1 races have sprint events in 2026?
The FIA and Formula 1 selected six sprint weekends for the 2026 championship.
| Grand Prix | Circuit | Date |
|---|---|---|
| China | Shanghai | March 13–15 |
| Miami | Miami International Autodrome | May 1–3 |
| Canada | Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve | May 22–24 |
| Great Britain | Silverstone | July 3–5 |
| Netherlands | Zandvoort | August 21–23 |
| Singapore | Marina Bay | October 9–11 |
Singapore was the final sprint weekend of 2026, meaning no additional sprint races are scheduled during the final six Grands Prix.
The absence of sprint events also affects the championship mathematics.
Only the main Grand Prix will award points in Austin, with 25 available to the winner.
That is particularly important for Antonelli, who enters the weekend with his first mathematical opportunity to secure the Drivers’ Championship.
How does a normal F1 weekend differ from a sprint weekend?
The principal difference is the amount of practice time and the number of competitive sessions.
| Feature | Standard weekend | Sprint weekend |
|---|---|---|
| Friday | FP1 and FP2 | FP1 and sprint qualifying |
| Saturday | FP3 and Grand Prix qualifying | Sprint and Grand Prix qualifying |
| Sunday | Grand Prix | Grand Prix |
| Practice sessions | 3 | 1 |
| Sprint race | No | Yes |
| Maximum weekend points | 25 | 33 |
A sprint awards points to the first eight finishers, with eight points for the winner and one for eighth place.
The main Grand Prix awards points to the top ten, with 25 for victory.
Austin’s traditional format means drivers cannot score championship points before Sunday’s race.
However, qualifying remains particularly important because the circuit offers several overtaking opportunities but also rewards track position and tyre management.
Antonelli’s title opportunity adds importance to Austin qualifying
Antonelli arrives at Circuit of The Americas with 340 points, leading Russell by 102 and Hamilton by 111.
The Italian has won eight Grands Prix in 2026 and could become the youngest world champion in Formula 1 history if he secures the required result on Sunday.
Because Austin does not host a sprint, there will be no opportunity for the Mercedes driver to extend his championship advantage before Sunday’s Grand Prix.
The absence of sprint points also means his rivals cannot reduce the gap during Saturday’s programme.
Mercedes will therefore concentrate on qualifying and race preparation, while Red Bull and Ferrari attempt to challenge its recent dominance.
Verstappen has won four Grands Prix at Austin and can equal Hamilton’s record of five victories at Circuit of The Americas.
Where to watch the United States GP weekend
The United States Grand Prix will be broadcast through Formula 1’s authorised partners, including Apple TV in the United States, Sky Sports F1 in the United Kingdom, FanCode in India and Fox Sports/Kayo in Australia.
All three practice sessions, Saturday qualifying and Sunday’s Grand Prix will be available through the relevant platforms, subject to territorial rights and subscription requirements.
The complete international viewing guide explains how to watch the United States Grand Prix live, including start times and streaming options.
