Formula 1 heads to Austin, Texas, this weekend for the United States Grand Prix, and the championship arrives at the Circuit of the Americas with plenty to talk about. Max Verstappen is back to winning races, Mercedes is looking to rediscover its early-season dominance, and Kimi Antonelli has his first opportunity to secure the 2026 Drivers’ Championship.
After a week away from racing, the action returns at one of the most exciting circuits on the calendar. Austin has produced some memorable battles over the years, and with the way the championship has developed recently, there is every reason to expect another entertaining race.
Let’s break down what to expect and who Ethical Sports Takes believes will stand on the podium Sunday afternoon.
Max Verstappen Is Back
Remember when Red Bull looked like it might go the entire season without a victory? Those days are officially over.
Verstappen has won the last two Grands Prix, taking victory in Malaysia before following it up with another impressive performance in Singapore. Suddenly, the four-time world champion looks like the driver everyone has to beat again.
What’s particularly impressive is how quickly Red Bull has turned things around. Mercedes dominated much of the season, Ferrari has shown flashes of serious pace, and McLaren has remained competitive. Yet Verstappen has found a way to put himself back at the front.
Now he arrives at a circuit where he has enjoyed tremendous success.
Verstappen has won four of the last five United States Grands Prix, and his ability to manage tyres, attack braking zones, and maintain consistency over a race distance makes him an extremely dangerous opponent at Austin.
The championship may be slipping out of reach, but that doesn’t mean Verstappen has nothing to fight for. Winning three consecutive races would send a powerful message heading into the final stretch of the season.
Mercedes Needs a Strong Weekend
For much of 2026, Mercedes looked almost untouchable. Kimi Antonelli and George Russell were regularly fighting at the front, and the Silver Arrows appeared to have the strongest overall package on the grid.
But the last two races haven’t exactly gone according to plan.
Russell retired in Malaysia before enduring another frustrating weekend in Singapore, where he finished ninth. Antonelli has continued collecting valuable points, but even he hasn’t been able to match Verstappen’s recent pace.
Mercedes also has work to do understanding its latest upgrades, which haven’t delivered the improvement the team was hoping for.
Austin offers an excellent opportunity to respond.
The circuit combines fast corners, long straights, and slower technical sections. A competitive Mercedes should be capable of challenging for pole position and fighting for victory.
Russell, in particular, needs a strong result. He remains second in the championship, but his recent performances have allowed Antonelli to build a commanding advantage.
A podium would be a welcome return to form, although Russell will undoubtedly be aiming for more.
Can Kimi Antonelli Clinch the Championship?
It’s remarkable that we’re already discussing the possibility of Kimi Antonelli becoming a Formula 1 world champion.
The young Italian enters Austin with a 102-point advantage over Russell and a mathematical opportunity to secure his first Drivers’ Championship.
Think about that for a moment.
Antonelli is only in his second Formula 1 season, yet he has spent much of 2026 looking like a seasoned veteran. Eight Grand Prix victories have put him firmly in control of the title race.
He hasn’t been perfect, but he hasn’t needed to be. His consistency has been outstanding, and even when Mercedes hasn’t had the fastest car, Antonelli has generally found ways to bring home important points.
However, securing the championship in Austin won’t be easy.
He needs to leave the weekend at least 125 points ahead of his nearest challenger, meaning he requires a significant swing in his favor.
I don’t believe the championship will be decided this weekend, but another podium would bring Antonelli one step closer to making history.
At this point, it feels less like a question of whether he’ll become champion and more like a question of when.
Don’t Forget About Ferrari
While much of the attention will be on Verstappen and Mercedes, Ferrari cannot be overlooked.
Charles Leclerc finished second in Singapore, while Lewis Hamilton has remained firmly involved in the battle near the front throughout the season.
Ferrari has demonstrated that it can challenge the leading teams, but consistency has been its biggest obstacle.
Austin should provide a useful test of the team’s latest developments. The long straights offer overtaking opportunities, while the technical sections will expose any weaknesses in the car’s balance.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see either Ferrari driver fighting for a podium, particularly if Mercedes struggles to find the right setup.
However, with Verstappen’s recent form and Mercedes’ overall performance this season, Ferrari narrowly misses out on my predicted top three.
EST Predicted Podium
1st Place — Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
I’m going with Verstappen to make it three consecutive Grand Prix victories.
The momentum is firmly on his side, Red Bull has made significant progress, and Austin is a circuit where he knows exactly how to win.
His recent performances have reminded everyone why he remains one of the best drivers in the world.
I expect Verstappen to challenge for pole position and, provided Red Bull executes its strategy properly, take another victory Sunday afternoon.
2nd Place — George Russell (Mercedes)
Russell desperately needs a clean weekend after two frustrating races.
The pace should be there for Mercedes to challenge Red Bull, and I believe Russell will bounce back with a strong performance.
I wouldn’t rule out a victory, but Verstappen’s recent form gives him the advantage.
Russell finishes second and finally gets himself back onto the podium.
3rd Place — Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
Antonelli has been the standout driver of the 2026 championship, but I don’t see him taking victory this weekend.
That doesn’t mean he’ll struggle.
I expect another consistent performance from the championship leader, who has shown an impressive ability to maximize his results even when Mercedes isn’t the fastest team.
Third place would be another valuable result as he continues marching toward his first world championship.
Final Thoughts
The United States Grand Prix has all the ingredients for a fantastic weekend.
Verstappen is chasing his third consecutive victory, Russell needs to respond after a difficult stretch, and Antonelli has the opportunity to move even closer to championship glory.
Ferrari will also be looking to disrupt the party, and with overtaking opportunities throughout the Circuit of the Americas, there’s no guarantee the finishing order will resemble the starting grid.
My money is on Verstappen continuing his remarkable late-season resurgence, with both Mercedes drivers joining him on the podium.
As for the championship? I believe Antonelli will have to wait at least another weekend before celebrating.
EST Final Prediction:
P1 — Max Verstappen | Red Bull
P2 — George Russell | Mercedes
P3 — Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes
The 2026 United States Grand Prix takes place Sunday, October 25, at 3:00 PM local time in Austin (4:00 PM Eastern).
Will Verstappen make it three straight, or can Mercedes finally put an end to Red Bull’s winning streak?
Leave a Reply