The Week Ahead

F1 Fantasy United States GP 2026 heads to Austin with the title fight approaching its conclusion. Max Verstappen swept the Singapore weekend and has now won two Grands Prix in a row, but Kimi Antonelli still leads George Russell by 102 points and has a chance of securing the championship on Sunday. Unlike Singapore, this is not a Sprint weekend, so there is less scoring upside and more emphasis on getting Sunday’s race right. The biggest fantasy decision is whether to back Antonelli’s season-long consistency or Verstappen’s winning form.

Quick Reference

Sprint Weekend?	NO
🔒 Fantasy Lock	2:00 PM PT, October 24 3:00 PM MT, October 24 5:00 PM ET, October 24
2× Boost	KIMI ANTONELLI—championship leader with consistent podium potential
Value Pick	NICO HULKENBERG—points in Singapore and overtaking upside
Constructor	MERCEDES—two front-running drivers
One to Avoid	CADILLAC—low expected finishing positions
Chips to play this week	None

The Circuit

Circuit of the Americas is a 5.5 km, 20-corner track with a steep climb into turn 1, high-speed direction changes through the opening sector and long straights followed by heavy braking zones. Those features create real passing opportunities. The 2025 Grand Prix produced 71 overtakes, making positions-gained and overtaking points a realistic target for midfield picks. Strategy is another variable, with a one-stop race expected, although Texas heat can accelerate degradation and bring two stops into play. The forecast is mostly dry with a slight chance of rain on Sunday. COTA still rewards the frontrunners, but overtaking and tyre strategy create opportunities for value picks to score well.

Building Your Team This Week

Locks, value picks, and drivers to avoid this weekend. Prices current as of this week. Full methodology in our PPM guide.

Tier	Driver / Constructor	Price (movement)	Why This Week
🟢 Lock	KIMI ANTONELLI	$27.1M (▲ $0.1M)	Championship leader, consistent front-runner
🟢 Lock	MERCEDES	$34.0M ($0.0M)	Two front-running drivers with scoring opportunities
⭐ Value	NICO HULKENBERG	$6.6M (▲ $0.6M)	Qualifying and overtaking potential
⭐ Value	RACING BULLS	$16.5M (▲ $0.6M)	Overtaking potential, likely price increase
🔴 Avoid	LANCE STROLL	$3.0M ($0.0M)	Poor recent pace
🔴 Avoid	CADILLAC	$3.0M ($0.0M)	Expected to finish toward the back

Fantasy Implications from F1 News

• Kimi Antonelli: He can clinch the Drivers’ Championship with a win if Russell finishes P9 or lower and Hamilton P5 or lower.
• McLaren: New floor and braking upgrades arrive in Austin after a difficult run, making Friday pace important before paying a premium for either asset.
• Audi: Hulkenberg’s points finish in Singapore gives the team momentum.

This Week’s Pick & Last Week’s Result

Our Lineup — United States GP 2026

Slot	Asset	Price	Why
Driver 1 (2× Boost)	KIMI ANTONELLI	$27.1M	Fantasy points leader
Driver 2	CHARLES LECLERC	$24.1M	Ferrari seem to have the pace to challenge at the front
Driver 3	NICO HULKENBERG	$6.6M	Recent points finish
Driver 4	OLIVER BEARMAN	$6.4M	Affordable, overtaking potential
Driver 5	VALTTERI BOTTAS	$3.0M	Minimum-price option allows for better assets elsewhere
Constructor 1	MERCEDES	$34.0M	Fantasy points leader, two high-scoring opportunities
Constructor 2	FERRARI	$28.2M	Next best team
Total		$129.4M

Strategy: Sticking with the same premium-constructor strategy while switching back to Antonelli allows us to afford a four Tier A lineup.

Last Race: Singapore GP Result

The switch back to Verstappen was the right call, with the 3× Boost producing 159 points, but Hadjar’s 2× Boost and Lindblad’s one-point return left us well short of the optimal team.

Season Progress

F1 Fantasy United States GP 2026 — FAQ

Who should I Boost in F1 Fantasy for the United States GP?

Kimi Antonelli is our 2× Boost pick. His consistency and Mercedes’ front-running pace give him a strong floor at a circuit that rewards a complete car. Max Verstappen is the higher-momentum alternative after winning both of the last two Grands Prix.

Is Circuit of the Americas good for overtaking in F1 Fantasy?

Yes. COTA recorded 71 overtakes in the 2025 Grand Prix, and its heavy-braking zones at Turns 1, 11, and 12 give midfield drivers opportunities to gain and recover positions. That makes cheaper drivers more appealing than at tracks where qualifying largely determines the finishing order.

Who are the best value picks for F1 Fantasy at the United States GP?

Recent performances from Nico Hulkenberg, Liam Lawson, and Oliver Bearman make them attractive budget options, with all three likely to benefit from price increases. Racing Bulls and Haas have also been scoring extremely well and are positioned to go up in price.

What are you running this week? Drop your lineup in the comments — and check back after FP2 for any last-minute changes.

New to F1 Fantasy? Complete Beginner’s Guide — Last Week’s Results: Singapore GP Review — Track Practice Data: United States GP Lock Guide (expected on Saturday)