Formula 1 heads to the USA this week for the United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas with the race taking place on Sunday 25 October.
There are six races left in the 2026 season, including this one, and Kimi Antonelli arrives with one hand on the Drivers Championship trophy and could be crowned Champion as early as this weekend. Max Verstappen comes into the weekend as the favourite after winning the last race in Singapore, and he also won this event last year. With the Mercedes pair, Verstappen and the Ferrari and McLaren drivers all in the mix, we have looked at the form guide and the market to find the best value.
Here is our full betting preview for the weekend.
DRIVERS CHAMPIONSHIP UPDATE
Kimi Antonelli has all but won the Drivers Championship. He leads on 340 points and is a 1.01 shot to win the title, 102 points clear of George Russell, who is second on 238 points at 101.00. Lewis Hamilton is third on 229 points, also at 101.00, while Max Verstappen is fourth on 221 points at 26.00.
With six races to go, Antonelli’s lead over Verstappen is 119 points, and with the title odds so short, the market is already treating the Championship as decided. Verstappen is the only driver chasing him priced at under 100.00, but even he has a mountain to climb.
Bookmakers have now priced up a Drivers’ Championship market without Antonelli, effectively a bet on who will finish second. Verstappen is the favourite at 1.65, ahead of Russell at 2.70 and Hamilton at 13.00, with the rest of the field available at 29.00 or better.
Click here to bet on the Drivers’ Championship without Antonelli.
Last Race – Singapore GP 2026
Last time out was the Singapore GP, where Max Verstappen took the win to follow up his victory at the previous race in Malaysia. Charles Leclerc finished second, with Kimi Antonelli third, a result that extended his lead at the top of the standings. Lando Norris was fourth, Oscar Piastri fifth and Lewis Hamilton sixth, while George Russell was outside the top six. It was a statement win for Verstappen, and it has put him firmly back in the picture heading to Austin.
United States GP 2025
Last year’s United States GP was also won by Max Verstappen, with Lando Norris second and Charles Leclerc third. Lewis Hamilton took fourth, ahead of Oscar Piastri in fifth and George Russell in sixth. Verstappen and Leclerc are the two drivers who have finished on the podium both at last year’s race and in last time out in Singapore, which makes the top six from last year a useful guide to who may go well this week.
Circuit
The Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas is a 5.513km, 20-corner circuit that runs anticlockwise, with the race run over 56 laps. The lap begins with a steep climb up to Turn 1, a tight left-hander at the top of an uphill braking zone, which can make the opening lap chaotic as drivers fight for position. In 2024, Verstappen and Norris both ran wide at Turn 1 and Leclerc went on to take the lead and win the race. Leclerc also holds the lap record, a 1:36.169 set in 2019, while Verstappen has won four times at the track. That makes getting the start and the first corner right a big part of picking a winner.
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BETTING (2026 United States GP) – Click here to bet
Max Verstappen (Red Bull) 2.10
Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) 3.40
George Russell (Mercedes) 9.50
Lando Norris (McLaren) 11.00
Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) 12.00
Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) 12.00
Oscar Piastri (McLaren) 21.00
Betting and Verdict:
We are going with Max Verstappen this week. He won the last race in Singapore, his second win in a row, and he also won last year’s United States GP, so he arrives on a run of strong recent form at a track where he has won four times. Nothing in his recent performances suggests that is about to change. At 2.10 he is the favourite in the market, ahead of Kimi Antonelli at 3.40 and George Russell at 9.50. With Antonelli close to wrapping up the championship, Verstappen has nothing to lose and everything to gain in the closing races, and we think he is the driver to beat in Austin.
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Suggested bet: Max Verstappen to win at 2.10.
We have chosen Charles Leclerc for a top 3 finish, based on last week’s result and last year’s result. He finished second in Singapore last time out and third at the Circuit of the Americas last year, and he won the race here in 2024, so he has a strong record at this track. A podium finish for Leclerc looks very achievable, and at 3.10 for a top 3 finish we think he offers good value.
Suggested Bet: Charles Leclerc Top 3 finish at 3.10.
Click here for all United States Grand Prix Betting Markets
Note: All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
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