Official 2025 United States Grand Prix Thread ***SPOILERS***

[Piginapoke]

After a cracking win by George in Singapore- enjoyed by everyone except his boss it seemed- and McLaren winning the WCC with 6 rounds to spare (!) , we’re in Austin for the United States GP.

Let’s hope papaya rules can be put aside and we see a fight for the WDC, elbows and all. It should be close between Max and the McLaren drivers, now that Red Bull seems to have cracked the code with its RB21.

Lando has had the slight upper hand in recent races and is my tip for the win. The McLaren should LOVE this circuit. Ferrari will be nowhere, again.

Remember it’s a sprint race. Note Pirelli are missing out a compound again, so tyres are C1, C3 and C4.

Here’s to a great race.

Date(s): Friday 17 to Sunday 19 October 2025.

UK Broadcast Timings (and track time)

All sessions are live on Sky F1. Channel 4 is showing highlights of all competitive sessions.





2024 Highlights: Leclerc win, awful start from Lando

https://youtu.be/kLCytMTycxI?si=J1i1r3niW4n1Z4HG

Tyres:

Harder compounds: C1 C3 C4

2024 Result:

[Byker28i]

Thanks.
As always the optimistic is going for Lewis again. He's on top of the car now, doing as well as Charles, if not better, and it's only the team screwing them over.

I wouldn't look past George for some sort of result, bad blood now between him and Toto, George doesn't want him managing him now after his pursuit of Verstappen.

Papaya rules out the window. Behind the scenes Oscar feels the team is favouring Lando. It's all getting bhy.

RB seem to have found performance, enough for at least Verstappen to push the car back towards the front.

Should be an interesting weekend

[CSR Performance]

I’ve gone for a Max win.

Whatever happens Lap 1 Turn 1 is going to be good, especially as it’s COTA!

[HocusPocus]

I am going for Max who seems to have grown up this season....bit more controlled and enjoying his driving with the new broom in RBR.

Surprised Toto still hasn't tied down George for 2026....maybe a walk across the paddock to AM would shake things up

[PhilAsia]

The PiaP Kasparov opening: "...After a cracking win by George in Singapore- enjoyed by everyone except his boss it seemed...", made me laugh!!

Thanks once again for your infamous efforts!

I've gone for a reverse cowgirl! Yee-hah! (...not sure I am the one who should be doing it though!)

[BrettMRC]

Thanks Mr Poke!

I'm going for a Norris win, Piastri a pit stop behind.
3rd place for some unfathomable reason to Tsunoda!

[rallycross]

Piastri for the win after skittling in Lando at the first corner and pushing him into Max taking both Max and Lando out and Oscar wins after making a front wing change and battling from last to first !

[Piginapoke]

PhilAsia said:

The PiaP Kasparov opening: "...After a cracking win by George in Singapore- enjoyed by everyone except his boss it seemed...", made me laugh!!

Thanks once again for your infamous efforts!

I've gone for a reverse cowgirl! Yee-hah! (...not sure I am the one who should be doing it though!)

Seriously, what does Toto have against George?!

[TVR Sagaris]

I think I've called the wrong winner for each race so far and have voted for Piastri this time which probably means Tsunoda will win.

[Sandpit Steve]

If there was to be only a single race in the US, it should be this one, one of few Tilkedromes to be a decent circuit, with elevation changes and a wide variety of corners.

I’ll be the optimist for Lewis, he likes this place and Ferrari have to surprise on the upside at least once this season, let’s hope they ve fixed the brakes after their adventures in Singapore last time out.

But it will probably be the McLarens fighting for the win again, in which case let s hope they don’t take each other out! Max and George fighting for the last step on the podium maybe?

Terrible time zone as well, I’m three hours ahead of forum time so qualifying for the race is at 1am, and the race itself 11pm Sunday night before a 5am alarm on Monday morning!

Edited by Sandpit Steve on Monday 13th October 08:35

[PRO5T]

I’ve voted Norris, I think max will win the sprint as red bull now know their car enough to get it right in the set up window quickly but McLaren will be faster once they learn how and where to use that speed.

But of the two McLaren drivers? I think Norris’ natural entitlement and favouritism in the team is going to mess with Oscar’s head in this last run to the title.

From the cool, calm, steadiness of earlier this season I think we’re going to see a whirlwind of errors from him as he’s pressure tested for the first time.

Only thing left to consider is whether it’s roast pork with crackling or roast beef and red wine gravy for the late Sunday Lunch :P

[Still Mulling]

Thank you, PiaP.

A bit of rain in both quali and the race to bring out-of-position cars and offset strategies, please and thank you.

McLaren need both cars ahead of Max to stem his momentum, but Max now has the bit between his teeth for his role of hunter!

[RacingStripes]

I still think its amazing that the roller coaster at the circuit is the one i went on many times at Light Water Valley as the Rat Ride.

[TikTak]

Thanks PiaP.

Ahhh soo here is COTA. A track I really really like without really knowing why I like it so much.

I'm going to plump for a Max win as he always goes really well here. It's still a bit of an unknown what or even if RBR unlocked anything on that car but as this is more to their high speed tendencies that perhaps shouldn't matter. Mclaren's filling out the rest of the podium.

Smoother track so Ferrari can probably run a bit lower and get a bit more out of the car but still expect Leclerc to be ahead of Hamilton who just looks all over the place and despite his record here. As usual with them it could be something like a P1/P4 finish or a DNF and the other one trundling around in 14th.

Expect Merc to not go as well here but still be in front of the rest/Yuki.

[suffolk009]

PRO5T said:

I ve voted Norris, I think max will win the sprint as red bull now know their car enough to get it right in the set up window quickly but McLaren will be faster once they learn how and where to use that speed.

But of the two McLaren drivers? I think Norris natural entitlement and favouritism in the team is going to mess with Oscar s head in this last run to the title.

From the cool, calm, steadiness of earlier this season I think we re going to see a whirlwind of errors from him as he s pressure tested for the first time.

Only thing left to consider is whether it s roast pork with crackling or roast beef and red wine gravy for the late Sunday Lunch :P

Pork loin, and a baked stuffed apple on the side.

[snotrag]

Turn 1, sharp left hander after that compressed braking going up the steep hill is going to be interesting now things are getting spicy.

Which side of the grid is P1 gonna be on...?

[Jasandjules]

Ah damn this is the one with bits past my bedtime....... Ah well, I think the McLarens will go well here, I guess the only question is will they take each other out into T1...

[Tim the pool man]

Sandpit Steve said:

If there was to be only a single race in the US, it should be this one, one of few Tilkedromes to be a decent circuit, with elevation changes and a wide variety of corners.

I ll be the optimist for Lewis, he likes this place and Ferrari have to surprise on the upside at least once this season, let s hope they ve fixed the brakes after their adventures in Singapore last time out.

But it will probably be the McLarens fighting for the win again, in which case let s hope they don t take each other out! Max and George fighting for the last step on the podium maybe?

Terrible time zone as well, I m three hours ahead of forum time so qualifying for the race is at 1am, and the race itself 11pm Sunday night before a 5am alarm on Monday morning!

Edited by Sandpit Steve on Monday 13th October 08:35

Race is 3AM Monday here!

[Tim the pool man]

Byker28i said:

...Behind the scenes Oscar feels the team is favouring Lando. It's all getting bhy.

I follow at least 6 various social media F1 groups (in addition to the PH F1 forum). Yes a couple are Australian but mostly global. From that significant sample I'd estimate 90% of people can see the obvious bias within McLaren towards Lando over Oscar. ZB doesn't even try to hide it, fawning over Lando and all but ignoring Oscar! The next few races will be telling...

[Big Nanas]

snotrag said:

Turn 1, sharp left hander after that compressed braking going up the steep hill is going to be interesting now things are getting spicy.

Which side of the grid is P1 gonna be on...?

It's always on the right, as that's the racing line. But watching some previous years starts, the inside usually gets a good run into that massive opening corner....and then you have the opportunity to 'push' the other driver wide on exit.

I think I'd rather start second here.