Formula 1 returns to action next weekend with the United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. The 19th round of the 2026 season takes place from 23 to 25 October, with the championship entering its final six races of the year.

After the Singapore Grand Prix, drivers and teams will face a very different challenge at the American circuit, which features a combination of high-speed corners, long straights and heavy braking zones. The 5.513-kilometre track will host a 56-lap race on Sunday, with the action taking place in the evening for European fans.

The weekend will get underway on Friday, 23 October, with the opening free practice session scheduled for 17:30 GMT (19:30 CEST), followed by FP2 at 21:00 GMT (23:00 CEST).

Saturday's programme will follow the same timetable, with the final practice session beginning at 17:30 GMT (19:30 CEST) before qualifying gets underway at 21:00 GMT (23:00 CEST). Drivers will have three hours of practice across the two days to fine-tune their setups before the battle for pole position at the Circuit of the Americas.

Sunday's United States Grand Prix will begin at 20:00 GMT (21:00 CET), with drivers set to complete 56 laps of the Austin circuit. *The race coincides with the end of daylight saving time in Europe, as clocks move back one hour overnight between Saturday and Sunday. As a result, viewers in the United Kingdom will see the race start at 20:00 local time, while fans in Central Europe will be able to follow the action from 21:00.

Full 2026 United States GP schedule: GMT and CET times

*Note: The UK and most of Europe switch to winter time on Sunday, 25 October. Friday and Saturday's times are shown in GMT and CET as fixed UTC offsets, rather than local daylight-saving time.

Ferrari keep fans in suspense with cryptic United States GP teaser

Could Ferrari be preparing something special for Austin? With the United States Grand Prix approaching, the Italian outfit has caught the attention of Formula 1 fans with a new social media post featuring title sponsor HP.

Ferrari posted the video alongside title sponsor HP just days before the United States Grand Prix in Austin. However, rather than revealing what is coming, the Scuderia have kept the details under wraps, offering little indication of what the collaboration with HP might involve.

One detail in particular stands out in the footage: the SF-26 can be spotted in the background, with much of the car concealed by darkness. Its presence leaves open the possibility of a revised colour scheme or a one-off livery for the Austin weekend, although there has been no confirmation from Ferrari that the announcement will involve any changes to the car's design.