2026 United States Grand Prix: Full Starting Grid Revealed for Austin

The 2026 Formula 1 United States Grand Prix, scheduled for 10‑12 October at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, has unveiled its full starting order. Per Motorsport.com and corroborated by Yahoo Sports, PlanetF1, AutohebdoF1 and RaceFans, the grid is set to open with Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli on pole position. He will be followed by Red Bull’s reigning world champion Max Verstappen in second place, and teammate Isack Hadjar in third. The top ten will feature Charles Leclerc in fourth for Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton in fifth for Mercedes, Sergio Perez in sixth for Red Bull, Lando Norris in seventh for McLaren, George Russell in eighth for Mercedes, Esteban Ocon in ninth for Alpine, and Fernando Alonso in tenth for Aston Martin. The rest of the grid continues with a mix of the season‑opener’s regulars and a few surprise entries. Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz will start 11th, while the Alfa‑Romeo team will have two cars in 12th and 13th. McLaren’s rookie, Alex Albon, will take 14th, and the Alpine squad will occupy 15th and 16th. The field also includes the two new entrants for 2026: the Haas‑Ferrari hybrid and the new Aston Martin‑Ferrari partnership, both starting in the mid‑field. The official confirmation of the grid comes from the FIA’s race‑day documentation and the teams’ own releases, making it a reliable source for fans and broadcasters alike. The schedule for the weekend remains unchanged: practice sessions on Friday, qualifying on Saturday, and the race on Sunday. With the grid now set, teams can fine‑tune their strategies for the high‑speed, high‑downforce layout of the COTA circuit. For Indian fans, the race will be available to stream live on FanCode, with commentary in Hindi and English. The event starts at 12:00 PM IST on Sunday, 12 October, giving viewers a perfect window to catch the action after the lunch break. Fans can also follow the live commentary and updates on the Pitlane Press India app, which will provide real‑time lap times, pit‑stop data and exclusive post‑race interviews.

Source: Motorsport.com, Yahoo Sports, PlanetF1, AutohebdoF1, RaceFans