Verstappen can match Hamilton’s Austin F1 win record as Red Bull revival threatens Mercedes

News Summary

• Lewis Hamilton holds the Circuit of The Americas record with five Formula 1 victories, achieved between 2012 and 2017.
• Max Verstappen has won four of the last five Austin Grands Prix, including the 2025 race, and can equal Hamilton’s record on October 25.
• Red Bull arrives in Texas after consecutive victories in Malaysia and Singapore, although Mercedes remains the leading team in the Constructors’ Championship.

Max Verstappen could equal Lewis Hamilton’s record of five Formula 1 victories at Circuit of The Americas this weekend, as the Red Bull driver arrives in Austin following consecutive Grand Prix wins and a remarkable recovery in competitiveness during the second half of the 2026 season.

The four-time world champion has won the United States Grand Prix at Austin in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2025, leaving him one victory behind Hamilton, who triumphed in 2012 and then four consecutive times between 2014 and 2017.

Verstappen’s opportunity comes at an important moment for Red Bull. The team struggled to challenge Mercedes consistently earlier in the season, but aerodynamic improvements and better power-unit management have transformed its performance since Azerbaijan.

The Dutchman now heads to a circuit where he has repeatedly demonstrated his ability to manage tyres, execute strategy and recover from difficult starting positions.

Hamilton leads Austin history, but Verstappen is closing in

Hamilton established himself as the most successful driver at Circuit of The Americas during the early years of the event.

He won the inaugural Austin Grand Prix in 2012 for McLaren, defeating Sebastian Vettel in a closely contested race that helped keep the Drivers’ Championship battle alive until the final round.

After moving to Mercedes, Hamilton secured four consecutive victories between 2014 and 2017, making the circuit one of his most successful venues.

His record remained unchallenged until Verstappen began his own run of victories in 2021.

The Red Bull driver defeated Hamilton in a tense strategic battle that year, holding off the Mercedes during the closing laps to secure a crucial victory in their championship fight.

Verstappen returned to win in 2022, contributing to Red Bull’s Constructors’ Championship success, before producing one of his most impressive Austin performances in 2023.

Starting sixth, he recovered through the field and defeated Hamilton and Lando Norris to secure his third consecutive victory at the circuit.

Charles Leclerc interrupted the sequence in 2024, leading a Ferrari one-two finish ahead of Carlos Sainz.

Verstappen then returned to the top step in 2025, converting pole position into victory and finishing 7.959 seconds ahead of Norris.

Every Formula 1 winner at Austin since 2012

Hamilton’s five Austin victories remain the benchmark, but Verstappen has won four of the five most recent races held at the circuit.

The distinction between Austin and the broader United States Grand Prix history is important. Hamilton has six victories in the event overall, including his 2007 triumph at Indianapolis.

Verstappen can therefore equal Hamilton’s Circuit of The Americas record in 2026, but would remain one victory behind his total across all United States Grand Prix venues.

Red Bull’s 2026 comeback creates another Austin opportunity

Verstappen’s recent performances have made the possibility of another Austin victory considerably more realistic than it appeared during the opening months of the season.

Red Bull’s difficulties became particularly visible in Azerbaijan, where Verstappen was 1.52% slower than the pole-position benchmark in qualifying.

However, subsequent improvements transformed the team’s performance, allowing the Dutchman to return to the front in Malaysia and Singapore.

As GRANDE PRÊMIO demonstrated in its analysis of Red Bull’s recovery, the improvement has been substantial across different circuit characteristics.

The power unit has also become more competitive through refinements to calibration and energy management.

Red Bull explained how its engine performance improved without major hardware upgrades, highlighting the importance of extracting greater efficiency from the existing package.

Austin will provide another demanding test because its layout combines high-speed direction changes, long straights and slower corners.

The opening sector includes a sequence of fast corners inspired by circuits such as Silverstone and Suzuka, while the long back straight places considerable demands on acceleration and energy deployment.

Those characteristics will allow Red Bull to evaluate whether its recent gains can be reproduced at another circuit with a different aerodynamic profile.

Mercedes remains Verstappen’s biggest obstacle

Despite Red Bull’s recovery, Mercedes remains the leading team in the 2026 Constructors’ Championship.

Kimi Antonelli enters Austin with an opportunity to secure his first Drivers’ Championship, while George Russell continues to provide the team with a strong second car.

Ferrari has also become more competitive, with Hamilton and Leclerc delivering improved performances during the recent Asian rounds.

The Italian team is preparing its final major aerodynamic package of 2026 for Austin, centred on a redesigned floor.

As GRANDE PRÊMIO reported ahead of the United States Grand Prix, the update is intended to improve the SF-26’s aerodynamic efficiency and consistency.

McLaren is also preparing developments as it attempts to defend third place in the Constructors’ Championship against Red Bull.

The British team enters Austin only seven points ahead of Verstappen’s organisation, creating another important battle alongside the fight for victory.

Verstappen’s recent form makes him a credible contender, but his four previous victories do not guarantee that Red Bull will possess the fastest car this weekend.

Can Verstappen break Hamilton’s record in 2026?

Verstappen cannot break Hamilton’s Austin record at this year’s United States Grand Prix.

A victory on October 25 would give him five wins at Circuit of The Americas, equalling Hamilton’s total. He would need a sixth Austin victory in a future season to become the circuit’s outright record holder.

The 2026 race is scheduled for Sunday, October 25, at 15:00 local time in Texas, equivalent to 17:00 in Brasília and 20:00 in the United Kingdom.

The event will be contested over 56 laps, covering approximately 308 kilometres.

The complete weekend programme is available in GRANDE PRÊMIO’s Austin schedule and viewing guide.