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F1 2025 United States Grand Prix: Final Starting Grid Confirmed After Penalties Applied

 

The FIA has officially confirmed the final starting grid for the highly anticipated 2025 United States Grand Prix, which takes place today, Sunday, October 19, at 2:00 pm local time (CDT) at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas.

 

After a tense qualifying session and a dramatic sprint race on Saturday, the stage is set for another thrilling Formula 1 showdown under the Texan sun. The drivers’ championship battle remains wide open, with Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri, and Max Verstappen all still firmly in contention as the season heads into its closing stages.

 

For much of the campaign, it looked as though McLaren’s dynamic duo — Norris and Piastri — would settle the title between themselves. The pair have dominated large parts of the season, with their team already crowned Constructors’ Champions after the Singapore Grand Prix. However, reigning world champion Max Verstappen has mounted an impressive late-season comeback, reigniting his hopes of retaining his title with a run of strong performances following the summer break.

 

Verstappen underlined his intent by delivering a commanding performance in qualifying on Saturday, securing pole position after an almost flawless lap. The Dutchman now targets his third win in the last four Grands Prix, aiming to continue his resurgence as McLaren’s consistency begins to waver.

 

Meanwhile, Norris will start alongside Verstappen on the front row, having recovered well after a challenging sprint race. His teammate and championship leader, Oscar Piastri, was less fortunate. The Australian struggled to regain his form after a heavy crash during Saturday’s sprint and could only qualify sixth. Despite this setback, Piastri remains determined to protect his slender points lead heading into today’s main event.

 

Ferrari drivers Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton will both be aiming to spoil the party for Red Bull and McLaren. Leclerc lines up third, showing strong pace through the weekend, while Hamilton — buoyed by his consistent form since joining Ferrari — starts fifth, just behind Mercedes’ George Russell, who impressed once again with a solid fourth-place effort.

 

Further down the grid, Mercedes’ young prodigy Kimi Antonelli continues to impress in his rookie season, taking seventh, while Ollie Bearman produced another eye-catching drive to secure eighth for Haas in front of the team’s home crowd. Carlos Sainz starts ninth for Williams, ahead of veteran Fernando Alonso, who rounds out the top ten for Aston Martin.

 

Outside the top ten, the midfield remains tightly packed. Nico Hülkenberg (Sauber) and Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) line up 11th and 12th, followed by Yuki Tsunoda, who endured a disappointing session to start 13th despite Red Bull’s strong overall showing. The Alpine pair, Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto, occupy 14th and 15th, while Gabriel Bortoleto starts 16th for Sauber. Esteban Ocon (Haas) and Alex Albon (Williams) take 17th and 18th respectively.

 

At the back of the grid, two drivers have been affected by penalties and incidents. Lance Stroll drops from 18th to 19th after receiving a five-place grid penalty for causing a collision with Ocon in the sprint race. Despite this, Stroll avoids starting last, as Isack Hadjar — who crashed out during Q1 — failed to set a time. Hadjar has been granted special permission by the stewards to start from 20th and last after repairs to his car.

 

With the grid finalized, attention now turns to the race itself, expected to deliver yet another unpredictable contest in this fiercely competitive season. Conditions in Austin are ideal for racing, and strategy could play a critical role, particularly with tire wear and energy management at the forefront of team concerns.

 

Fans around the world are eagerly awaiting lights out at 2:00 pm local time (8:00 pm BST), as the 19th round of the 2025 Formula 1 World Championship gets underway. With Verstappen chasing glory, Norris eyeing redemption, and Piastri determined to stay ahead in the title race, the United States Grand Prix promises a spectacular afternoon of wheel-to-wheel action.

 

Official Starting Grid – 2025 United States Grand Prix (COTA, Austin):

 

1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)

 

 

2. Lando Norris (McLaren)

 

 

3. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)

 

 

4. George Russell (Mercedes)

 

 

5. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)

 

 

6. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)

 

 

7. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)

 

 

8. Ollie Bearman (Haas)

 

 

9. Carlos Sainz (Williams)

 

 

10. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)

 

 

11. Nico Hülkenberg (Sauber)

 

 

12. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls)

 

 

13. Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull)

 

 

14. Pierre Gasly (Alpine)

 

 

15. Franco Colapinto (Alpine)

 

 

16. Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber)

 

 

17. Esteban Ocon (Haas)

 

 

18. Alex Albon (Williams)

 

 

19. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) five-place penalty

 

 

20. Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) no qualifying time

 

 

 

With everything on the line and the title fight tighter than ever, Austin is set to deliver another unforgettable chapter in the 2025 Formula 1 season.

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