Formula 1 returns to the United States, officially marking the final quarter of an epic 2025 championship.
With six weekends left, McLaren has already secured the constructors' championship for a second consecutive year.
Now, all attention is on which driver will emerge as world champion.
Australian Oscar Piastri leads the drivers' championship ahead of his McLaren teammate, Lando Norris.
However, Piastri has finished behind his teammate in the previous three grands prix.
Meanwhile, a resurgent Max Verstappen, who has found renewed pace with Red Bull, has turned an all-McLaren duel into a three-way fight.
Here is what is to come in the final quarter of the 2025 F1 season.
What are the F1 drivers' championship standings after 18 rounds?
Piastri is the leader of the championship, a position he has held since winning the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in round five.
After winning the Dutch Grand Prix at the end of August, Piastri enjoyed a season-high 34-point lead over his teammate Norris.
Verstappen was a distant 104 points off the Australian, his hopes of winning a fifth consecutive world championship all but over.
But Piastri finished behind Norris and Verstappen in each of the next three grands prix, including a first-lap crash in Azerbaijan.
Piastri's lead is now 22 points to Norris and 63 points to Verstappen.
- Oscar Piastri (AUS), McLaren — 336
- Lando Norris (GBR), McLaren — 314
- Max Verstappen (NED), Red Bull — 273
Piastri is in the best position as we enter the final quarter of the season, but his recent form has reduced his lead.
Norris is the main threat to the Australian, with the British driver close enough to take the championship lead should he win in the next round and Piastri has a poor outing.
For Verstappen, overhauling 63 points in six rounds is a big ask. The 41-point deficit to Norris is also a tough task.
Verstappen would need to drive at his absolute best and have a bit of luck fall his way.
Fortunately for the Dutchman, that is what has happened in the past three race weekends.
Verstappen has finished ahead of both McLaren drivers in the past three races, winning in Italy and Azerbaijan, then placing second in Singapore.
What are the final six races of the F1 season?
United States Grand Prix (Austin)
F1's second trip of three excursions into the United States is in Austin, Texas.
The Circuit of the Americas has become a popular race since its introduction in 2012.
Piastri has a best result of fifth in his two races there, while Norris has managed to get onto the podium.
Verstappen has won in Austin on three occasions.
The Circuit of the Americas sometimes looks like a homage to other great racing tracks around the world.
Turns three to six are reminiscent of the high-speed run through Maggots and Becketts at Silverstone in the UK, and the famous S curves driven at Suzuka in Japan.
Further in the lap, turns 12 to 15 are similar to the stadium section in Hockenheim, Germany.
Turn one is a unique corner, however.
A steep uphill run along the start-finish straight leads to a tight left-hand hairpin where drivers can overtake on the inside and outside line.
- Oscar Piastri's best finish: fifth (2024)
- Lando Norris's best finish: second (2023)
- Max Verstappen's best finish: first (2021, 2022, 2023)
- Sprint race start time: Sunday, October 18, 4am AEDT
- Grand prix start time: Monday, October 20, 6am AEDT
Mexico City Grand Prix
The Mexico City Grand Prix is unlike any other.
The colour and passion in the crowd is unmatched anywhere in the world. And the location is high … very high.
The Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez is more than 2,000 metres above sea level, providing a unique challenge for teams as the reduced air density at high altitude affects aerodynamic performance and means engines can overheat more quickly.
Norris was second in last year's grand prix, while Piastri managed eighth. The Australian rued a poor qualifying session after being fastest in practice just hours earlier.
Verstappen has been a master of the altitude, winning in Mexico City on five occasions.
The start-finish straight provided the best chance for overtaking, with trailing cars benefiting from a long drag reduction system (DRS) section into the first turn.
A winding section from turns seven to 11 will test the stability of each car and the handling of the drivers.
Turns 13 and 14 go through a massive grandstand section that provides one of the most unique viewing sights in F1.
- Oscar Piastri's best finish: eighth (2024)
- Lando Norris's best finish: second (2024)
- Max Verstappen's best finish: first (2017, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2023)
- Grand prix start time: Monday, October 20, 7am AEDT
São Paulo Grand Prix (Brazil)
The São Paulo Grand Prix, formerly known as the Brazilian Grand Prix, is one of the most famous races on the F1 calendar.
The famed Autódromo José Carlos Pace, in the neighbourhood of Interlagos, has been a scene of many dramatic moments.
The drivers' championship has been won at Interlagos six times, while Verstappen's brilliant drive in the wet last year all but sealed his fourth title and ended Norris's genuine chance.
Norris has a best grand prix finish of second, while Piastri has only managed eighth in two attempts.
Norris won the sprint race at Interlagos in 2024.
Verstappen is a three-time winner at Interlagos.
The track is completed in quick time and features plenty of challenges for drivers.
The Senna S — turns one and two named after legendary champion Ayrton Senna — is sharp and downhill and comes at the end of the start-finish straight.
This is often the best place to overtake on the race track.
Turn four, a sharp left-hander at the end of the circuit's other straight, is another opportunity for overtaking.
The rest of the lap is full of sweeping turns and hard braking zones, providing a test for the driver and machine.
- Oscar Piastri's best finish: eighth (2024)
- Lando Norris's best finish: second (2023)
- Max Verstappen's best finish: first (2019, 2023, 2024)
- Sprint race start time: Sunday, November 9, 1am AEDT
- Grand prix start time: Monday, November 10, 4am AEDT
Las Vegas Grand Prix
The third and final excursion into the United States is the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
This year will be the third running of the race, held on the famed streets of Las Vegas.
McLaren has failed to reach the podium in Vegas, with Norris (sixth) and Piastri (seventh) securing their best results last season.
Verstappen was the inaugural winner of the race in 2023.
Despite being a street circuit, drivers will produce average speeds similar to Monza during this grand prix.
The best overtaking spot is into the chicane at turns 14 and 15, at the end of the lap's second DRS zone which is located on a long straight, which in reality begins at turn 12.
There are tight and narrow sections which must be treated with respect, or a driver's race could end prematurely.
The outline of the circuit looks like a pig lying on the ground with its legs in the air.
- Oscar Piastri's best finish: seventh (2024)
- Lando Norris's best finish: sixth (2024)
- Max Verstappen's best finish: first (2023)
- Grand prix start time: Sunday, November 22, 3pm AEDT
Qatar Grand Prix
Qatar has been a strong track for Piastri.
He won the sprint race in both 2023 and 2024 and has been on the podium in both grands prix.
Norris is no slouch either, with a best grand prix finish of third in 2023.
Verstappen is a two-time winner in Qatar, triumphing in the previous two editions of the race.
The Lusail International Circuit was built with motorcycle racing as its primary focus.
Hosting its first MotoGP race in 2004, it is a fast and flowing track that is well suited to bikes.
Medium to high-speed corners are the defining features of the circuit, a tough challenge for any driver who is on older tyres.
The triple right-hand turns of corners 12 to 14 will really test the stability and downforce of any F1 car.
The best overtaking spot is turn one, after the long straight which stretches more than 1km.
- Oscar Piastri's best finish: second (2023)
- Lando Norris's best finish: third (2023)
- Max Verstappen's best finish: first (2023, 2024)
- Sprint race start time: Sunday, November 30, 1am AEDT
- Grand prix start time: Monday, December 1, 3am AEDT
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Abu Dhabi is no stranger to title deciders, and it could be on the verge of another in 2025.
On four occasions (2010, 2014, 2016 and 2021), the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix has hosted a season finale with the drivers' championship still up for grabs.
Only once, in 2010, has the driver leading the championship entering the grand prix not become the world champion.
Norris was victorious in Abu Dhabi last season, while Piastri rallied after a lap one crash with Verstappen to finish 10th.
The Australian started on the front row, but dropped to last after contact with Verstappen.
Piastri is yet to finish on the podium in Abu Dhabi from his two grands prix.
Verstappen is a four-time winner in Abu Dhabi. Only Lewis Hamilton (five) has more wins at Yas Marina.
The Yas Marina Circuit is dominated by the 1.2-kilometre straight between turns five and six, the best spot for overtaking.
A chicane was removed before what is now the turn five hairpin in 2021, providing another good overtaking spot.
Verstappen made his championship-winning move — notwithstanding the controversy — on Hamilton at turn five in the final lap of the 2021 race.
Turn nine is the only other realistic overtaking opportunity for drivers, while the final sector of the lap is very technical.
- Oscar Piastri's best finish: sixth (2023)
- Lando Norris's best finish: first (2024)
- Max Verstappen's best finish: first (2020, 2021, 2022, 2023)
- Grand prix start time: Sunday, December 8, 12am AEDT
When does the F1 United States Grand Prix begin?
In Australia, the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix will be held on Monday, October 20.
Here is when the race will begin in each of Australia's states and territories:
- 6am AEDT: NSW, ACT, Vic, Tas
- 5:30am ACDT: South Australia
- 5am AEST: Queensland
- 4:30am ACST: Northern Territory
- 3am AWST: Western Australia
There is also a sprint race this weekend in Austin.
The sprint race, which is one-third of a grand prix distance, will run on Sunday, October 19, in Australia.
Here is when the sprint race will begin in each of Australia's states and territories:
- 4am AEDT: NSW, ACT, Vic, Tas
- 3:30am ACDT: South Australia
- 3am: AEST: Queensland
- 2:30am ACST: Northern Territory
- 1am AWST: Western Australia
How can I watch the F1 United States Grand Prix?
Fox Sports and its streaming platform Kayo will be broadcasting the United States Grand Prix.
Those watching on Foxtel can watch the race on Fox Sports, channel 506.
You can also follow all the action with the ABC Sport live blog, from pre-race drama to the post-race synopsis.
What do I need to know about the Circuit of the Americas?
The Circuit of the Americas sometimes looks like a homage to other great racing tracks around the world.
Turns three to six are reminiscent of the high-speed run through Maggots and Becketts at Silverstone in the UK, and the famous S Curves driven at Suzuka in Japan.
Further in the lap, turns 12 to 15 are similar to the stadium section which is found in Hockenheim in Germany.
Turn one is a unique corner, however.
A steep uphill run along the start-finish straight leads to a tight left-hand hairpin where drivers can overtake on the inside and outside line.
Fast facts about the Circuit of the Americas
- First race: 2012
- Number of laps: 56
- Lap distance: 5.513km
- Race distance: 308.405km
- Fastest lap: 1:36.169 — Charles Leclerc (2019)
