United States Grand Prix 2026 Prediction (Formula 1) Odds and Bets 25.10.2026

Last update at 22 October, 2026Reading time: 5 minutes

Max Verstappen

Andrea Kimi Antonelli

United States GP - Formula 1, 20:00 @ 25.10.2026

Formula 1 heads to Austin on Sunday, 25 October, with Max Verstappen looking for a third consecutive Grand Prix victory. The Red Bull driver has won the last two races and boasts an excellent record at Circuit of The Americas. For fans planning to watch live, here’s what time the 2026 US Grand Prix starts in the UK.

Championship leader Kimi Antonelli arrives with a 102-point advantage over George Russell and his first opportunity to secure the world title. However, Verstappen’s recent form makes him my favourite for Sunday’s race

United States Grand Prix 2026: Date, UK Start Time and Race Details

Race information	Details
Event	United States Grand Prix 2026
Championship	Formula 1
Round	18 of 23
Date	Sunday, 25 October 2026
UK start time	8:00pm GMT
Qualifying	Saturday, 24 October, 10:00pm BST
Circuit	Circuit of The Americas, Austin
Race distance	56 laps, 308.405 km
Circuit length	5.513 km
Tyre compounds	C2 Hard, C3 Medium, C4 Soft
UK TV / Streaming	Sky Sports F1, NOW, Channel 4 highlights

UK clocks go back on Sunday, 25 October, so qualifying takes place in BST and the race starts at 8:00pm GMT. There is no Sprint in Austin this year.

How Are Verstappen and Antonelli Performing?

Max Verstappen Form: Two Consecutive Wins

Verstappen arrives in Austin in outstanding form after winning the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia and the Singapore Grand Prix. His last five race finishes read third, second, second, first and first. That’s five consecutive podiums, including four top-two finishes.

His Singapore victory was particularly convincing, finishing 7.335 seconds ahead of Charles Leclerc. The Dutchman’s record at Austin is another major advantage. He’s won the United States Grand Prix four times, including last year’s race. Despite sitting fourth in the championship, Verstappen looks capable of challenging Mercedes for victory again.

Kimi Antonelli Form: Championship Glory Within Reach

Antonelli has dominated much of the 2026 season, collecting eight Grand Prix victories, 14 podiums and six pole positions.

The Mercedes driver leads the championship with 340 points, 102 ahead of teammate George Russell. His recent victories at Monza and Madrid demonstrated his speed, while recovering from 19th on the grid to win in Italy highlighted his racecraft.

However, Verstappen has finished ahead of Antonelli in their last three Grands Prix. The Italian also finished 13th at Austin in 2025. Mercedes remain extremely competitive, but Red Bull appear to have closed the gap at precisely the right moment.

Key Factors Behind My United States Grand Prix Prediction

Verstappen’s Recent Momentum: Two consecutive victories and five straight podiums make the Red Bull driver the man to beat heading into Austin.
Excellent COTA Record: Verstappen has won four of the last five United States Grands Prix, including the 2025 race from pole position.
Antonelli’s Championship Form: Eight wins and 14 podiums underline Mercedes’ consistency. Antonelli could also secure the world title this weekend.
Tyre Strategy and Conditions: Pirelli has selected C2, C3 and C4 compounds. Warm conditions and the circuit’s demanding corners could make tyre management decisive.
Top-Two Betting Appeal: Verstappen is 11/10 to win, but finishing in the top two at 2/5 looks more attractive given his recent consistency.

United States Grand Prix 2026 Statistics

Formula 1 2026 season, after 17 Grands Prix.

Statistic	Max Verstappen	Kimi Antonelli
Team	Red Bull	Mercedes
Championship position	4th	1st
Championship points	221	340
Grand Prix wins	2	8
Podium finishes	9	14
Pole positions	2	6
Top-10 finishes	13	15
Retirements	4	1
Podiums in last five races	5	4
2025 United States GP finish	1st	13th

Antonelli’s numbers explain his commanding championship lead, but recent results favour Verstappen. The Red Bull driver has finished on the podium in each of his last five Grands Prix, winning the previous two. His record in Austin strengthens that case, although Antonelli’s eight victories show why the Mercedes youngster remains a serious contender.

Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship Standings 2026

Position	Driver	Team	Points
1st	Kimi Antonelli	Mercedes	340
2nd	George Russell	Mercedes	238
3rd	Lewis Hamilton	Ferrari	229
4th	Max Verstappen	Red Bull	221

Antonelli could become the youngest world champion in F1 history this weekend if results fall his way. Verstappen is 119 points behind the championship leader, making victory in Austin more important for his recent momentum than for a realistic title challenge.

United States Grand Prix 2026 Betting Odds

Indicative pre-race prices for Sunday, 25 October 2026.

Driver to win	Fractional odds
Max Verstappen	11/10
Kimi Antonelli	23/10
George Russell	10/1
Lewis Hamilton	11/1
Lando Norris	11/1
Charles Leclerc	11/1

Additional betting market	Odds
Max Verstappen to finish top two	2/5

Verstappen is the outright favourite at 11/10, followed by Antonelli at 23/10. However, I prefer Verstappen to finish in the top two at 2/5. He’s achieved that in four of his last five Grands Prix, and this selection doesn’t require him to beat every driver. The outright victory at 11/10 offers a bigger return for those expecting Red Bull’s winning run to continue. Odds may change following practice, qualifying or team updates.

United States Grand Prix 2026 Predictions and Betting Tips

Beni

The conservative one

Max Verstappen to Finish Top Two

Odds 2/5

Five straight podiums, four top-two finishes and a win here last year. I like the numbers, and I don't need Max to win outright to collect. This is my sensible pick for Austin.

Beto

The bold one

Max Verstappen to Win

Odds 11/10

Two wins on the bounce and back at one of his favourite circuits? I'm going for the hat-trick. Antonelli's been brilliant this season, but Max looks ready to steal the spotlight again.

Max Verstappen to Finish Top Two

Category Formula 1

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Daniel HarrisExpert sports betting analyst

Originally from Manchester, Daniel has been following English football and betting on sport for years. He now covers football and tennis as part of the BetBrothers tipster team, researching every selection before sharing it. His approach is simple: follow the sport closely, do the homework and only back a bet when he thinks the odds are worth it.