F1: United States Grand Prix Preview and Betting Tips

The most remarkable fact ahead of the Circuit of the Americas race is that newly-crowned Constructors’ champions McLaren are winless in the last three GPs.

Four-time world champion Max Verstappen won at Monza and on the streets of Baku to haul himself to within 47 points of second-place Lando Norris in the standings.

Mercedes driver George Russell dominated in Singapore two weeks ago to win his second race of the season. The Briton signed a new deal to race for the German in 2026, ending months of speculation about his future.

McLaren finished fourth and fifth in Texas last year, with Ferrari securing a one-two win courtesy of Charles Leclerc.

All eyes will be on Oscar Piastri and Norris as they battle for top spot in the standings. There is a maximum of 58 points on offer because of the Sprint format, and Verstappen and co will be acutely aware of making life as hard as possible for the McLaren drivers.

Let’s dive into what we can expect from this weekend’s race, starting with the track.

The Track

The 5.513km Circuit of the Americas (COTA) track first came onto the scene in 2012. It’s known for its 41 metre elevation change, which is most noticeable in the run to the first turn.

There are 20 corners in total, and according to F1.com, the COTA designers took inspiration for Turns 3 through 6 from Silverstone’s high-speed run through Maggotts/Becketts. Turns 12 through 15 mimic Hockenheim’s stadium section, and there are two DRS zones.

The 56 race laps are run anti-clockwise, and COTA features a mix of corners that require a medium level of downforce. The circuit features a flat-out section of over one kilometre; therefore, top speed is crucial. The technical sections of the track require stability and therefore a balanced set-up is favoured.

According to F1 tyre supplier Pirelli, the track was partially resurfaced in 2024, making it smoother and less bumpy than in the past.

Maximise Points in Austin

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella said after the Singapore GP that COTA would not suit the team. The papaya-coloured cars have an advantage around faster, longer bends, and this circuit, like the two previous ones, is devoid of those characteristics.

With four consecutive top-two finishes leading into the Sprint weekend, Verstappen has been installed as the favourite for the win in Austin. The Dutch driver has won here in 2021, 2022, and 2023.

Verstappen is the favourite for the win ahead of Piastri and Norris. The Red Bull driver has an outside chance of winning his fifth driver’s title and could be within touching distance of Piastri by Sunday evening.

Ferrari and Mercedes could find themselves in the mix with the constructors’ champions for the remaining podium spots. Russell and Antonelli are in good form, while Ferrari will hope for better results from Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc.

Predictions

Grand Prix Winner: Verstappen

Sprint Winner: Norris

Grand Prix Podium: Verstappen, Norris, Piastri

Sprint Podium: Norris, Piastri, Verstappen

Pole Position: Verstappen

Sprint Pole: Norris

Top 4 and 5: Leclerc, Hamilton

Finish in the points: Russell, Antonelli, Sainz, Lawson

Race Winning Margin: Over 5 seconds

Fastest Lap: Verstappen

First to Retire: Colapinto

First car to retire: Alpine

Most Team Points: McLaren

Both Cars Qualify for Q3 Shootout: Red Bull

Ferrari Practice 1/2/3 Winning Car: Leclerc / Ferrari

Safety Car: No

Fastest pit stop: McLaren