F1 US GP: Verstappen Aims for Hat-Trick as Antonelli Eyes Championship in Austin

Formula One arrives in Austin this weekend with Max Verstappen aiming for a third consecutive win, while Kimi Antonelli is on the cusp of securing his first world championship. The Circuit of the Americas presents a demanding challenge with its blend of high-speed corners, heavy braking zones, and a long back straight, testing both car and driver to their limits. This weekend's race is expected to see track temperatures exceed 55°C, placing significant emphasis on tyre management. Drivers who can best preserve their rubber are likely to be in contention for the win. Emirati racer Al Dhaheri is making a significant stride towards his F1 aspirations with a move to Formula 3.

Our power rankings assess which drivers are in the best form heading to Austin, considering recent performance, raw speed, driver extraction from the car, momentum, and suitability of their strengths to the Circuit of the Americas. Here are our top 10 rankings and race predictions:

1. 10. Nico Hulkenberg (Audi)
   Form: Bahrain P11, Singapore P8. Championship: P14. Hulkenberg's most productive weekend of the season was in Singapore, where he secured P7 in the sprint and P8 in the main race, fending off a faster George Russell in the closing laps. Audi believes recent car developments are yielding results, though Hulkenberg remains cautious. The Circuit of the Americas will be a key indicator of their genuine progress.
2. 9. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
   Form: Bahrain P6, Singapore P5. Championship: P7. Two consecutive top-six finishes have helped Piastri regain stability after a challenging period. A collision with his teammate on the final lap of the Singapore sprint, which led to internal team discussions, cost him a better result. McLaren CEO Zak Brown notes Piastri is rebuilding his confidence and appears to be back to his best. McLaren is introducing minor floor upgrades and improvements to the braking system for Austin, which should benefit the Australian driver.
3. 8. Isack Hadjar (Red Bull)
   Form: Bahrain P5, Singapore P10. Championship: P8. Hadjar's Singapore result is somewhat overshadowed by a weekend plagued by technical issues, including power-unit and gearbox problems. Despite starting from the pit lane, he managed to recover to P10. Laurent Mekies acknowledged that Red Bull owes him a better opportunity to showcase his pace, especially with the RB22 car showing significant progress.
4. 7. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls)
   Form: Bahrain P7, Singapore P7. Championship: P9. Lawson has become a consistent points scorer, achieving two consecutive P7 finishes and a P5 in the Singapore Sprint. With his 2027 future still uncertain, he is making a strong case on track, outperforming Lindblad in 10 of their 14 Grands Prix together.
5. 6. Lando Norris (McLaren)
   Form: Bahrain P9, Singapore P4. Championship: P6. The sprint race collision with Oscar Piastri in Singapore impacted Norris's momentum, costing McLaren valuable points and prompting internal discussions. While his pace remains strong, questions linger about his decision-making. McLaren has moved past the incident, but Norris will be looking to prove himself in Austin.
6. 5. George Russell (Mercedes)
   Form: Bahrain DNF, Singapore P9. Championship: P2. Russell has faced a string of unfortunate events. An engine failure in Malaysia while running in P3 forced a significant power-unit penalty in Singapore, where he started 19th and recovered to P9. Reliability issues continue to plague Mercedes, with Toto Wolff acknowledging the need to understand their shortcomings. Both Mercedes drivers will be equipped with the latest car specifications, and Russell will be hoping for a change in fortune in Texas.
7. 4. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
   Form: Bahrain P3, Singapore P6. Championship: P3. Hamilton secured second in the Sprint and qualified third for the Singapore GP, but the race didn't unfold as planned. A misjudgment under a virtual safety car led him to miss the pit entry, resulting in older tyres that ultimately cost him three positions. He expressed regret over the strategic call. Ferrari is introducing a new floor to the SF-26 in Austin, aimed at improving its operating window. Hamilton's past success at this track, with five victories, could be an advantage.
8. 3. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
   Form: Bahrain P4, Singapore P2. Championship: P5. Leclerc broke his streak of fourth-place finishes with an impressive second in Singapore, briefly challenging Verstappen at the start. However, he admitted the Ferrari currently lacks the outright pace to consistently compete. Ferrari's latest significant upgrade, a new floor, is expected to enhance aerodynamic load and improve car balance.
9. 2. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
   Form: Bahrain P2, Singapore P3. Championship: P1. Despite Mercedes' challenges, Antonelli consistently fights at the front. He overcame braking difficulties in Singapore to recover and pass Norris and Hamilton on fresh tyres for P3. With 14 podiums in 17 races, he leads Russell by 102 points. A victory in Texas, combined with other results, could see him clinch the championship this weekend.
10. 1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
    Form: Bahrain P1, Singapore P1. Championship: P4. Verstappen has transformed from seeking his first win to becoming the dominant favorite. Following his Malaysia victory, he achieved a clean sweep in Singapore, taking pole and winning both the sprint and the Grand Prix – his first win at Marina Bay in ten attempts. Red Bull's performance gains are evident, with the car now appearing to be the class of the field. Verstappen has a strong record at the Circuit of the Americas and will be aiming for a third consecutive win to prevent Antonelli from securing the title.

Austin Podium Prediction:

1. Max Verstappen: With two consecutive wins and undeniable momentum, Verstappen is the clear favorite. He has proven competitive across various circuit types and has a proven track record at the Circuit of the Americas.
2. Kimi Antonelli: Antonelli has a chance to secure the championship in Texas and will be pushing hard for the win. Mercedes hopes their latest upgrade will resolve reliability issues and allow him to challenge at the front.
3. Charles Leclerc: Following his strong Singapore performance, Leclerc's new upgrade should enable him to fight for a podium. He won at Austin in 2024 and will be aiming for a top-three finish this Sunday.